Police Accountability and Policing Oversight Mechanisms in the Southern African Development Community (SADC)

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Periodical article

Title:	Police Accountability and Policing Oversight Mechanisms in the Southern African Development Community (SADC)
Author:	Lumina, Cephas
Year:	2006
Periodical:	African Security Review
Volume:	15
Issue:	1
Pages:	92-108
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Southern Africa
Subjects:	police responsibility Law, Human Rights and Violence
External link:	https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10246029.2006.9627392
Abstract:	The police are given unparalleled and special powers in the furtherance of their duties, including the power to detain and to use force. Depending on how these powers are used, they may either protect or violate human rights. Consequently, the exercise of police powers requires that it should be used responsibly. Public concern over questionable police practices has led to experimentation with and adoption of various methods of non-State (civilian) oversight and control. This essay first outlines the functions of policing oversight and its legal basis. Then it surveys the various mechanisms for policing oversight in countries within the SADC. These include internal investigation, police standing orders, and other internal mechanisms, as well as external oversight mechanisms such as the public prosecutor, ombudsman offices, complaint bodies, police service commissions, and parliamentary commissions. The essay concludes with suggestions about police oversight in the region based on a brief review of other global practice. Notes, ref., sum. [ASC Leiden abstract]