Re: Fourth quarterly crime briefing.
On the occasion of our fourth quarterly crime briefing, I am delighted to announce that there has been no increase in the 20 most serious crime tendencies during the past six months.
The National Crime Prevention Strategy (NCPS) is conducting an audit on existing facilities for victims and to develop training programmes for police, court officials and others who work with victims of crime. This programme is being directed by the Department of Welfare.
It appears that we have halted the deterioration - crime levels are stabilising and decreasing. We do, however, acknowledge that there are weaknesses in the organisation. One of them being our ability to investigate. The Department of Safety and Security has moved beyond identifying and theorising about the problems towards implementation. In mid-October, 1997, the South African Police Service will be opening a new Detective Academy in Silverton, Pretoria, to alleviate the problem of overworked and undertrained detectives. The Academy will inject fresh blood into the detective service and it will also enhance our capacity to clear cases.
We, however, note with concern two particular areas in the report. The report paints an unacceptable picture in relation to the increase in the number of escapees from detention or lawful and the killings of police officials. Some, if not most, of the escapes from detention are attributable to gross negligence, corruptible officers and poor infrastructure. The National Commissioner has already indicated that tough measures are going to be instituted to alleviate this problem.
We regard the killing of police officers as a matter of concern. We call upon the community to play an active role in protecting its protectors. We cannot allow the police and members of the public to be held to ransom by criminals. We are duty-bound to ensure that we reclaim our streets from criminals. Our task is to continue implementing short-term practical measures that will produce immediate results and long-term measures through the NCPS and in conjunction with the relevant departments and sectors of civil society so that our assault on crime and its root causes are sustainable.
In April this year, Government decided that certain ports of entry should be closed to bulk commercial traffic. Under the NCPS we compelled the departments of Home Affairs, South African Revenue Services and the South African Police Service to work together in a Joint Management Structure. This integrated approach which started in April this year, has already yielded more than R45 million in revenue which would otherwise have been lost. What we are achieving through the NCPS is greater co-ordination at both policy and operational level.
Finally, this report has a chapter with suggestions on crime prevention. While it is our primary responsibility to disseminate these through a variety of campaigns and in partnership with organs of civil society to members of the public, we appeal to the media to publish these suggestions as an effort to inform the public.