‘Should be a concern’: POPCRU reacts to quarterly crime stats
POPCRU says crime stats should serve as a tool that provides law enforcement agencies with data for use in determining police operations.
The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) says the minimal reductions in the crime stats of the first quarter should be a concern to the South African Police Service (SAPS).
Minister of Police Bheki Cele released the quarterly crime statistics on Friday, 18 August.
POPCRU WEIGHS IN ON CRIME STATS
POPCRU noted that while there are recorded reductions in some crime categories, including the murder rate by 3,1% and sexual offences by 2,1%, there has been an increase of 7% in the attempted murder category.
Most concerning is that the most reported cases of murder come from both KwaZulu-Natal’s Inanda and Umlazi police stations. At the same time, the other province with such high figures remains the Western Cape through the Delft, Gugulethu, and Harare police stations.
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POPCRU spokesperson Richard Mamabolo said comparatively observing; these minimal reductions should be a concern to the South African Police Service (SAPS) since, ideally, crime statistics are supposed to serve as a tool with which to provide law enforcement agencies with data for use in determining budgetary formulations, planning and the allocation of resources and police operations.
Mamabolo said the above points to the capacity of the SAPS and puts to question the extent to which resources are channeled to stations to ensure they can service communities.
“These unabated patterns are but a reflection of the deep-rooted capacity challenges faced by our police officers across different communities, wherein despite being aware of the crime conditions, is limited by the availability of resources to make any real interventions,” – he said.
WHAT ROLE DO SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITIONS HAVE ON CRIME?
Mamabolo said it is always vital that when reflecting on the rising crime statistics, blame is not only placed on police but a broad approach that considers the more general socio-economic conditions faced by the populace, including the implications thereof which lead to the states law enforcement officers, have to contend with is considered.
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