Dear Honorable Ministers

My name is Miles Glen a former seasoned police detective from the UK, who is desperately trying to make a difference to violent crime in South Africa.

In 2008/2009 I was fortunate enough to be given the opportunity to deliver a workshop to 500 Police Detectives and Station Commanders across Gauteng in approaching crime through a change of mindset using tried and tested techniques, guaranteed to dramatically improve on investigations/ convictions, service delivery, as well as improving on personal safety.

The project was seen as a huge success in the media, where the key note speaker Minister Paul Mashatile (who was the Premier of Gauteng at the time ) was extremely supportive of the project and I am certain will still remember the ceremony. In addition, feedback from every single learner who attended the workshop (average of 15 years experience) from seasoned specialized units to station commanders all agreed that this workshop would make a significant difference to violent crime. Unfortunately the project was rejected by SAPS head office training, even though the Head of Training for Gauteng at the time wrote a glowing report recommending that this workshop MUST be implemented at National level.

Undeterred in making a difference to the country we continued to find individuals who could assist, where in 2013 we managed to have a meeting with former National Police Commissioner - Riah Phiyega, including a large number of Generals.

This meeting came about after the former Head of H/R requested a comparative study be completed between SAPS training and our workshop. This study was completed 5 years after the original project, where the outcomes STILL recommended that our services are used.

All the Generals in the meeting supported our proposal, but yet again after the meeting nothing transpired.

We then met with the MEC for Safety and Security for Gauteng, who wanted the workshops delivered in Gauteng, where again this request was given to SAPS Head Office by her office, where we received verbal feedback stating that the SAPS do not like to use external providers.

Two years ago I was introduced to Minister Cele through a a highly respected businessman, who after hearing what we were trying to achieve in making the country a safer place, personally invited me to a media briefing which he and Minister Cele had arranged.

I was handed a business card by Minister Cele's PA and asked to call re a meeting. On calling I was informed by his PA that they would return our call in order to arrange a meeting, however this did not transpire.

In November 2020 we again met with a General from SAPS Head Office , who clearly saw the value agreeing that this type of workshop was a dire need in SAPS, expressed concern over why this workshop was not actioned and where she was going to arrange that we present our services to the Heads of Departments, where to date, 4 months later we are not getting any response to our communications.

To be honest, we have tried our level best to show integrity and ethics during this lengthily process (as values are the foundation of our workshops) where unfortunately even with the extremely high rates of violent crime and with the President stating that GBV is his top priority, we cannot understand why 'pride'' seems to be the barrier we are constantly facing.

As quoted by The Honourable Bheki Cele, during the SAPS Budget Speech 2020

“The reoccurring scenes, of scattered dead bodies in the streets of Phillipi, Mitchells Plain and Nyanga are unbearable. It is on that score that I challenge all Generals in the SAPS to surrender their uniforms, if this situation does not improve. The battle ahead of us requires a dedicated and selfless workforce that is equal to the task.”

We respectfully ask for an urgent meeting to present our services which 'we can guarantee will go along way to making the National Development Plan for 2030 a reality.

We look forward to your response.

Respectfully

Miles Glen