Cele Attributes Decline in Crime Statistics to Operational Policing Strategies
South Africa has recently seen a decline in crime rates, with the murder rate decreasing for the second consecutive quarter. Police Minister Bheki Cele attributes this decline to the combination of operational policing strategies and interventions implemented by the South African Police Service (SAPS).
During the release of the Crime Stats Quarter 2 of 2023/2024, Cele stated that the murder rate decreased by 3.1% between May and July, and by 0.8% between July and September 2023. This positive trend is also reflected in the decrease of other crimes that instill fear among the population, such as hijackings, business robberies, and property robberies.
Cele highlighted the efforts of the SAPS in combatting crime through decisive police action and robust community involvement. He emphasized the importance of capacitating critical units of the police service and overhauling the management of the Crime Intelligence division.
The strengthening of Crime Intelligence capacity at the top 30 crime-heavy police stations has also been a priority. Intelligence officers have been provided with adequate resources, including vehicles and tools of trade, to gather intelligence effectively.
The investigation of organized crimes has been intensified through increased resources at both provincial and national levels. This has enabled the SAPS to infiltrate criminal syndicates and make significant arrests.
Cele also mentioned the ongoing recruitment of thousands more police officers under Project 10 000, aimed at boosting police numbers at stations across all provinces. He emphasized the importance of maintaining and further strengthening the targeting of crimes in hotspots to ensure sustained decreases in crime rates.
Operation Shanela, a high-density policing approach to prevent and combat crime, has also played a significant role in the decline of certain crime categories. In its sixth month running, the operation has resulted in the arrest of over 226,000 suspects, including some of the most wanted and dangerous criminals.
Tracking and tracing wanted suspects has been prioritized, alongside everyday policing activities at station level.
Despite the overall drop in the murder rate, the report highlighted that 6,945 people were murdered in South Africa between July and September 2023. This includes 881 women and 293 children. Tragically, 35 police officers and 19 law enforcement officers were also killed on and off duty during the same period.
Cele identified arguments, misunderstandings, and robbery as the top three causative factors for murder in most of the provinces. Firearm, knives, and sharp instruments are the most commonly used murder weapons. Firearms alone claimed the lives of 3,106 victims during the reporting period.
These statistics provide a sober analysis of the effectiveness of policing efforts in ensuring the safety of South Africans and their properties. They serve as a means to redirect resources to areas where they are most needed and to develop a more targeted response to crime.
The decline in crime rates in the top four crime-heavy provinces, namely KZN, Western Cape, Gauteng, and Eastern Cape, demonstrates the positive impact of redirecting resources. These provinces have successfully reduced contact crimes, trio crimes, robberies, sexual assault, and assault during the reporting period.
Cele concluded by stressing that these crime figures should serve as a call to action for all stakeholders, including the government, business sector, NGOs, civil society, and communities. Together, they must join forces in the fight against crime to ensure a safer South Africa for everyone.
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