Assessing the prevalence of unethical behaviour in the South African police service

States have always used their law enforcement and security organs to ensure that communities are peaceful, liveable and tranquil. These include the police services such as the South African Police Service (SAPS), which serves the same function in the local contexts. In pursuing its mandate, the SAPS...

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Main Authors: Maxwell Haurovi, Alouis Chilunjika
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: UAB Sustainability for Regions 2023-12-01
Series:Insights into Regional Development
Online Access:https://jssidoi.org/ird/article/145
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author Maxwell Haurovi
Alouis Chilunjika
author_facet Maxwell Haurovi
Alouis Chilunjika
author_sort Maxwell Haurovi
collection DOAJ
description States have always used their law enforcement and security organs to ensure that communities are peaceful, liveable and tranquil. These include the police services such as the South African Police Service (SAPS), which serves the same function in the local contexts. In pursuing its mandate, the SAPS uses preventative and curative strategies to establish community peace and calm. These are ensured through various policy and statutory prescriptions, including the Constitution and Code of Conduct. The study uses Adam Smith’s theory of Moral Sentiments to unpack and assess unethical conduct within the SAPS. Using the qualitative methodological approach, hinged on an interpretive research philosophy, the study gathered data from written documents. The collected data was analysed using content and thematic analysis techniques. The study established that upholding ethical and professional conduct by police officers within the crime prevention mandate of the SAPS remains problematic. SAPS encountered challenges like police corruption, bribery, illegal protection, and extortion. The study thus makes various recommendations, including a professionalised recruitment process for the SAPS.
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spelling doaj-art-9b7b02bb1c4d487b876e21496a5972f32025-08-20T03:19:39ZengUAB Sustainability for RegionsInsights into Regional Development2669-01952023-12-0154364810.9770/IRD.2023.5.4(3)Assessing the prevalence of unethical behaviour in the South African police serviceMaxwell Haurovihttps://orcid.org/0009-0006-2529-5521Alouis Chilunjikahttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-9801-4803States have always used their law enforcement and security organs to ensure that communities are peaceful, liveable and tranquil. These include the police services such as the South African Police Service (SAPS), which serves the same function in the local contexts. In pursuing its mandate, the SAPS uses preventative and curative strategies to establish community peace and calm. These are ensured through various policy and statutory prescriptions, including the Constitution and Code of Conduct. The study uses Adam Smith’s theory of Moral Sentiments to unpack and assess unethical conduct within the SAPS. Using the qualitative methodological approach, hinged on an interpretive research philosophy, the study gathered data from written documents. The collected data was analysed using content and thematic analysis techniques. The study established that upholding ethical and professional conduct by police officers within the crime prevention mandate of the SAPS remains problematic. SAPS encountered challenges like police corruption, bribery, illegal protection, and extortion. The study thus makes various recommendations, including a professionalised recruitment process for the SAPS. https://jssidoi.org/ird/article/145
spellingShingle Maxwell Haurovi
Alouis Chilunjika
Assessing the prevalence of unethical behaviour in the South African police service
Insights into Regional Development
title Assessing the prevalence of unethical behaviour in the South African police service
title_full Assessing the prevalence of unethical behaviour in the South African police service
title_fullStr Assessing the prevalence of unethical behaviour in the South African police service
title_full_unstemmed Assessing the prevalence of unethical behaviour in the South African police service
title_short Assessing the prevalence of unethical behaviour in the South African police service
title_sort assessing the prevalence of unethical behaviour in the south african police service
url https://jssidoi.org/ird/article/145
work_keys_str_mv AT maxwellhaurovi assessingtheprevalenceofunethicalbehaviourinthesouthafricanpoliceservice
AT alouischilunjika assessingtheprevalenceofunethicalbehaviourinthesouthafricanpoliceservice