Nhlanhla Mabaso2 November 2024 | 8:43

KZN top cop Mkhwanazi reacts to 'trigger-happy' label, says no officer should 'die at the hands of criminals'

KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi said the criticism of the shootings between police and criminals is not justified, adding that the experts and analysts have no clue what officers on the ground experience.

KZN top cop Mkhwanazi reacts to 'trigger-happy' label, says no officer should 'die at the hands of criminals'

KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi at the SAPS KZN Service Excellence Awards at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre (ICC) in Durban on 1 November 2024. Picture: @SAPoliceService/X

DURBAN - KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has urged officers not to be discouraged by the comments from crime experts and analysts.

He was referring to instances where police experts have previously labelled police’s response to criminals as being trigger-happy.

Speaking at the Police Excellence Awards on Friday, he lambasted the comments.

Mkhwanazi said the criticism of the shootings between police and criminals was not justified.

He said the experts and analysts had no clue what officers on the ground experienced.

"We refuse to be lectured by people who never set foot on the streets where we operate."

Mkhwanazi said officers had to defend themselves when their lives were threatened.

"Officers have been issued tools of trade so that not a single police officer should die at the hands of criminals. They use the skills, techniques, and equipment we give them to protect themselves and law-abiding citizens."

He has urged police officers to act fast when confronted with hardened criminals.