Parkview CPF

 Identifying Police Officers

It is important to be able to differentiate between the various Police Services. There has been a disturbing number of reports of bogus Police Officers stopping motorists, as well as corrupt officials soliticing bribes from motorists. The Parkview CPF has recently launched a campaign to assist motorists in combating fraud in the various police services, and this requires the help of motorists in reporting cases of fraud. It is therefore important to be able to recognise the Police Services in order to be able to take the appropriate action.

Remember that paying a bribe is a serious criminal offence, and encouraging officers to accept bribes contributes to the problem, which endangers others, possibly even members of your own family. If you're standing around the braai and somebody brags about how they got off a speeding fine by bribing a cop, the automatic reaction should be "that's uncool". We don't have to accept the degeneration of law and order. Don't whine about corruption, do something about it! You can find the anti-corruption contact details here.

Below are images, courtesy of the SAPS Provincial Commander of the Gauteng crime Management Centre. These indicate the uniform and car markings of the Police Services you are likely to encounter in Gauteng. Within the Parkview Precinct, however, one is likely to encounter either SAPS or JMPD officers. Note that Metropolitan Police only have jurisdiction within their own territories, whereas SAPS Officers have jurisdiction anywhere in the country. Occassionally one may also encounter Gauteng Traffic Police. Note that Police Officers from all services may at times wear luminous, reflective vests to improve visibility at roadblocks and check-points.

All Police Services are formed under the South African Police Service Act No. 68 of 1995. This includes Metropolitan Police Services. You have a right to ask to see the appointment certificate (ID) of any Police Officer who stops you. They are obliged to show this to you in order for you to establish the Police Officer's identity and authority before you are obliged to produce your own identity or name. The appointment certificate is a laminated card with a picture of the Police Officer, the Police Service, their rank and service number, amongst other important information.

Note that marked cars usually have a call-sign clearly marked on them. In case of the SAPS, this is usually two-letters (representing the home station) and two digits. Parkview vehicles therefore have call-signs beginning with "PV". In the case of JMPD, this is usually a single letter (representing the region of Johannesburg), and a two digit number. The Parkview Precinct falls within Region B, so most JMPD cars you will encounter in our precinct have call-signs beginning with "B". A car's call-sign uniquely identifies the vehicle, so it is always useful to take note of the call-sign, failing which, the registration number of the vehicle(s) in order to identify the officer(s) involved.

SAPS All blue uniform Six-pointed star Yellow and blue stripes on car	JMPD Blue shirt and cap, brown trousers Oval shield Orange bottom panel of car	Gauteng Traffic Brown uniform Five-pointed star Blue car	Ekurhuleni Metro Police Blue shirt and cap, brown trousers Oval shield Yellow bottom panel of car, bold blue stripe
Tshwane / Pretoria Blue shirt and cap, brown trousers Oval shield Yellow and blue cheques on car	Midvaal / Meyerton Brown uniform Five-pointed star Yellow and blue curved stripes on car	Emfuleni / Vanderbijlpark / Vereeniging Brown uniform Five-pointed star Blue and white chevron on car	Metsimaholo / Sasolburg Brown uniform Five-pointed star on blue shield Blue and yellow chevron on car