Speaking at a ceremony to select candidates for recruitment to the police, Mandra said "it is not possible to commit some of the crimes that have happened without knowledge of police skills or techniques. And, unfortunately, every year we have expelled a significant number of people from the police force".
Mandra announced that last week a police sergeant was arrested, on suspicion of belonging to a gang of armed robbers.
Vehicles were found at his home that are believed to have been used in crimes.
Such discoveries, Mandra said, called for greater care in recruitment to the police. Entry into the police must not be a last resort for people who could not find other jobs, or were unable to secure a place in higher education.
"Choosing the police as a career should be a matter of commitment", stressed Mandra.
This is the first year in which a new method of recruitment is being tried, involving public investigations into the life and behaviour of the would-be recruits. The recruiters will go to where the candidates live to see whether they are in good standing in the local community.
Throughout the country 1,600 people have applied for the 1,200 places at the basic police school at Matalane, in Maputo province.
The investigation into these would-be recruits will take place over the coming week, as their relatives and friends are asked about their character and their behaviour.
SOURCE: AIM
