Metropolitan Police Services Department

What we do

We are responsible for crime prevention, by-law and traffic enforcement. In terms of crime prevention, we target and patrol areas based on identified threat analysis and patterns. We also:

Conduct regular stops and searches of suspected clients and dealers.
Conduct joint and autonomous operations targeting known and suspected drug houses and routes leading to drug houses.
Execute warrants, which are targeted in joint operations in identified high-risk areas in support of the South African Police Service (SAPS).
Focus on detecting petty offences including by-law offences and minor crimes.
Assist in curbing general anti-social behaviour, e.g. urinating in public, drinking in public, use of abusive language, etc.
Aim to prevent the occurrence of road traffic offences by means of preventative patrols. The department increases the active visibility of traffic enforcement and the level of interrupted patrolling 24 hours per day, 7 days a week on the road and street network.
Promote enforcement of selected critical traffic offences and contraventions and strives to improve community relations by increasing the quality and quantity of contact between citizens and Law Enforcement agencies.
Provide assistance to stranded road users and attend to broken-down and abandoned vehicles.
Respond, attend to, safeguard and investigate road traffic accidents and incidents.
Assist in reducing traffic congestion and accident hazards, and improve road user security.
Promote general traffic law compliance in general to reduce the number of road accidents and road rage incidents. We maintain high levels of visibility in targeted crime and disorder hot spots.

"The Metropolitan Police Department is dedicated to render an equitable, accessible and sustainable policing service delivery to the community, in partnership with the SAPS, community and other stakeholders. We achieve our mission by applying the principles of good governance, investment in excellence, stability, security and the promotion of a culture of civil obedience, with those who share our vision of safety in a fair and just environment by providing effective community policing, traffic policing, by-law enforcement and crime prevention." Wayne Le Roux Chief: Metropolitan Police Services

We include

Tactical Response Unit

We respond to protest actions, marches and strikes.

Gang and Drug Task Team

We gather information on alleged gang members and their associates. We respond to criminality linked to drug and gang activity and conduct joint operations with leading agencies e.g. SAPS as well as other internal and external partners. We also conduct autonomous operations.

Canine Unit

We conduct searches of premises, vehicles and persons. The unit assists with youth shows, such as the drug awareness dog shows.

Equestrian Unit

Our unit patrols on horseback in all areas. We assist with youth shows, are deployed to beaches and tourist hot spots during the festive season and patrol along the mountain. We are also deployed to events in around the city.

Camera Response Unit

We respond to suspicious activities witnessed on camera and are deployed to hot spot camera incident routes in the case of an emergency.

Video Unit

We are responsible for filming and gathering evidence at marches and gatherings that are attended to by the Tactical Response. This unit does traffic enforcement where it is not practical to stop vehicles such as moving violations e.g. driving on barrier lines on the N2 whereby a fine will be processed from the video footage.

Closed Circuit Television Camera (CCTV) Unit

We monitor CCTVs, radio communications, ShotSpotter, and highway surveillance. We also assist in detecting emergency situations, including monitoring smash and grab areas.

General operational staff

We assist with crime prevention, by-law enforcement and traffic enforcement.

Social Crime Prevention Unit

We assist communities through our Domestic Violence, Youth at Risk, Substance Abuse and Child Safety programmes. We aim to empower communities to respond to social issues that lead to crime, and address fears and perceptions of unsafe environments.

Public Relations Unit

We are responsible for planning exhibitions (displays), organising career days at schools or special events.

Training Academy

We are responsible for training including Law Enforcement Auxiliary, as well as basic, Peace Officer, Traffic Warden, In-service training and the Law Enforcement Skills Programme.

Internal Affairs

We are responsible for investigating officer misconduct.

Civilian Affairs

We are responsible for legal representation, uniform, enforcement of the Firearms Control Act.