SAPS, MECs strategise on crime reduction

In a statement, South African Police Services (SAPS) said the meeting noted that timely and accurate assessment of crime trends played a crucial role in combating crime. They noted as well as the ability to properly identify crime threats and patterns allowed more effective planning and resource allocation.

"The meeting was in unison in acknowledging that in all these safety challenges, there are no quick fix solutions but through clear time frames, accountability and monitoring mechanisms, crime reduction can be sustained," SAPS said.

Provinces such as Western Cape, Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal identified rape and violent crimes against women, children and the elderly as being a specific crime trend that required urgent attention. In some cases, the issue of abuse of customary practices was also a contributing factor to crimes against women and children.

Drugs, substance abuse and gangsterism were cited by Western Cape, KZN and Free State as growing and serious crime trends.

To address these, the MINMEC stressed that improved detection, investigation and prosecution were urgently required.

The meeting noted that government, at a Justice, Crime Prevention and Security cluster level, has begun a process of developing an Inter-Governmental Relations Gang Strategy, which will be complemented through the Drug Master Plan.

"This strategy will encapsulate and outline the contribution of different role-players within the criminal justice system. Part of the focus would be on capitalising on the SAPS Forensic Services Laboratories in processing forensic cases in order to expedite prosecutions," SAPS said.

One of the crucial crime trends which has been on the increase in almost all the provinces was violence against women, children and the elderly.

The SAPS executive felt that focus must be placed on mobilising society to make life difficult for perpetrators of such crimes.

"The meeting, however, noted that police alone cannot address this challenge, that it should include an overhaul of gender, family relations and intolerance of abuse within communities."

The meeting further noted a need to develop a comprehensive and efficient national complaints plan to handle complaints on policing issues.

It emphasized a need to improve, develop and have a proper diagnostic monitoring system, which would improve the public's perceptions about police.

"The plan should, amongst others, outline clarity on various oversight and complaints processing structures such as the SAPS National Inspectorate, the Presidential Hotline so that the complaints are properly coordinated system.

"It should also outline accountability mechanisms so that if a complaint has not been attended to, negligently of otherwise, that punitive and disciplinary measures are put in place," the ministry said.

The meeting further noted various interventions in better policing of protest and public order policing, as directed by President Zuma during the State of the Nation Address.

They also noted the progress in the implementation process of the public order policing, which is underpinned by relevant and on-going training, including the role and responsibility of protest organisers.

The MINMEC further reiterated a need for community-orientated policing, which speaks to the manner in which police operate and how they understand and engage with the communities they serve.