EMP

There was a problem for 10 years with the lack of OB (Occurrence Books) or pocket books for recording operations; administration was poor and reports were not timely.

“For the past 10 years, we did not have pocket books, OB books, you see. Administration was not there, you see. You only depend when you report it, you see. That is why sometimes we will get the complaint after a year or six months or seven months.”

An agreement with government printers to deliver OB pocket books has improved the situation recently; by law, each member must issue a pocket book, and the unit or precinct must have an OB where records are kept centralised and accessible.

“I am told now that... the government printers have started to deliver OB books, pocket book. I think that has improved now. Because by law, each and every member must issue the pocket book. The unit or the precinct must have an OB where your record.”

If an EMP member operates outside their jurisdiction, they must report it on police radio and communicate the fact, though this is challenged by issues with communication radios.

“I am supposed to report it on the police radio and say we are moving out of jurisdiction. But again, it is a challenge because a lot of communication radios too...”