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Serious crime down, new police strategy to be announced

Murder and attempted murder per 100 000 of the population decreased from 69,5 to 55,3% and 70,7 to 66,7% respectively between 1994 and 1999, according to SA Police Service Assistant Commissioner, Johan Burger.

Speaking at the launch of the Securex 2000 exhibition at Gallagher Estate, Midrand (1–3 March), Burger said that according to the Crime Information Analysis Centre of the SA Police Service, twelve other serious crimes, including rape, had stabilised, albeit still at unacceptably high levels.

Burger said that in the Western Cape overall crime levels had decreased by 4,7%, KwaZulu-Natal had experienced a decrease in crime of 3% and the situation in Gauteng appeared to have been stabilised.

“The major development in the SA Police Service aimed at combating crime more effectively is the recent establishment of the National Crime Combating Forum (NCCF), at national, provincial and area levels."

The NCCF will be the major driving force behind the SA Police Service's new strategic approach, to be implemented from April 1, 2000.

National police commissioner, Jackie Selebi, is currently briefing the parliamentary portfolio committee of Safety and Security on the details of the strategy.

"At this stage I can only say that this strategy will focus, more than any of the previous police campaigns, on proper crime intelligence, including tactical intelligence and crime pattern analysis," Burger said.

"It will also follow an integrated multi-agency approach which will include the formation of partnerships with private and nongovernmental institutions such as the private security industry."

Government departments such as the SA National Defence Force, Justice, Correctional Services and Welfare, will also be involved in the execution of the strategy.

The new police strategy was developed over the last three to four months in consultation with various commanders and members of the Executive Committee in provinces responsible for Safety and Security.

It will address the following crime priorities:

A. Organised crime specifically relating to drugs, firearms, vehicles, commercial crime and corruption.

B. Serious and violent crimes, specifically relating to murder; armed robberies, heists, hijackings, intergroup violence (political violence, taxi violence and gang violence) and urban terrorism.

C. Crimes against women and children, specifically rape and indecent assault.

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