Domestic Violence Act, 1998 (Act No. 116 of 1998)Domestic Violence National Instruction 7/19993. Responsibilities of station commissioner |
| 1) | Every station commissioner must liaise with local representatives of the Department of Welfare, the local Community Police Forum and any other relevant local institution, to identify local organisations which are willing and able to provide counselling and other support services (including medical services and suitable shelter) to complainants. |
| 2) | After having identified the organisations referred to in subparagraph (1), the station commissioner must liaise with the said organisations to determine - |
| a) | the specific services that are rendered by each; |
| b) | whether the services are rendered after hours, during weekends and on public holidays; |
| c) | whether the services are rendered free of charge or at a fee; and (d) the contact particulars of each. |
| 3) | The station commissioner must compile a list of the relevant organisations and include in it, in respect of each organisation, at least the information referred to in subparagraph (2) as well as information relating to hospitals, ambulance services and medical practitioners that may be utilised to provide medical treatment to complainants. |
| 4) | The original list referred to in subparagraph (3) must be kept by the station commissioner who must update it at least once every six months. |
| 5) | The station commissioner must ensure that a copy of - |
| a) | the Domestic Violence Act; |
| b) | the Regulations promulgated in terms thereof; |
| c) | this National Instruction; |
| d) | the station orders issued by him or her in terms of subparagraph (6); and |
| e) | the list referred to in subparagraph (3); |
| f) | are at all times available in the Community Service Centre and that a copy of the list referred to in subparagraph (3) is at all times available in each police vehicle at his or her station which is utilized to attend to complaints. |
| 6) | The station commissioner must, taking into account the unique circumstances prevailing in his or her specific station area, available resources, etc., issue station orders - |
| a) | requiring a member under his or her command to inform a complainant of the services rendered by organisations mentioned in the list and how to inform the complainant thereof (e.g. by providing the complainant with a copy of the list or allowing the complainant to peruse the list or reading the information from the list to the complainant); |
| b) | setting out the steps that must be taken by such member to assist the complainant, when requested thereto by the complainant, to gain access to any service rendered by an organisation mentioned in the list or to obtain medical treatment should this be required; and |
| c) | in general, instructing members under his or her command on any other matter relating to the treatment of complainants of domestic violence which he or she deems necessary to determine in respect of his or her specific station area. |
| 7) | Where a police station area forms part of a larger area consisting of more than one police station area and a radio control unit has been established to patrol and attend to complaints in such larger area, every station commissioner of a station in such larger area must, for information purposes, provide the commander of such radio control unit with a copy of - |
| a) | the list referred to in subparagraph (3) and, when he or she has updated the list, a copy of the updated version thereof; and |
| b) | a copy of the station orders issued in accordance with subparagraph (6) and, if he or she amends the orders, a copy of the updated version thereof. |