scholarly journals Encouraging and discouraging factors to crime reporting in South Africa: a survey of residents’ crime reporting behaviour in Mthatha South Africa police service precinct

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ithandile Mbewu ◽  
Emeka E Obioha ◽  
Ishmael Mugari
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Crime Reporting ◽  
Police Service ◽  
Reporting Behaviour

Safeguarding the Republic? The South African Police Service, Legitimacy and the Tribulations of Policing a Violent Democracy

2021 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 92-108
Author(s):  
Guy Lamb
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Public Trust ◽  
The South ◽  
Police Service ◽  
South African Police Service ◽  
The Republic ◽  
South African Police ◽  
High Crime ◽  
Excessive Use Of Force

Since 1994 the South African Police Service (SAPS) has undertaken various efforts to build legitimacy in South Africa. Extensive community policing resources have been made available, and a hybrid community-oriented programme (sector policing) has been pursued. Nevertheless, public opinion data has shown that there are low levels of public trust in the police. Using Goldsmith’s framework of trust-diminishing police behaviours, this article suggests that indifference, a lack of professionalism, incompetence and corruption on the part of the police, particularly in high-crime areas, have eroded public trust in the SAPS. Furthermore, in an effort to maintain order, reduce crime and assert the authority of the state, the police have adopted militaristic strategies and practices, which have contributed to numerous cases of excessive use of force, which has consequently weakened police legitimacy in South Africa

scholarly journals IMPROVED CRIME REPORTING: Is South Africa’s crime wave a statistical illusion?

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ted Leggett
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Crime Rate ◽  
Crime Reporting ◽  
Democratic Government ◽  
The Public ◽  
Police Statistics ◽  
Crime Wave ◽  
Improved Performance

Is crime in South Africa really on the increase, or is the spiralling crime rate a product of improved reporting? It was not unexpected that the arrival, in 1994, of a democratic government should lead to a dramatic increase in crime reporting. Police statistics show that commonly underreported crimes have been going up, while those most likely to be reported (murder, car theft, and business burglary) are in decline. This suggests that improved performance by the police (which encourages reporting by the public) may be responsible for the ‘increase’ in crime in recent years.

scholarly journals PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE: Addressing violent crime in South Africa

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sibusiso Masuku
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Violent Crime ◽  
The South ◽  
Police Service ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
South African Police Service ◽  
South African Police ◽  
Better Than

South Africa’s high levels of violent crime have a significant effect on people’s lives. A review of the trends and risk factors associated with violent crime begs the question about who should be leading the effort to prevent violence? The South African Police Service currently has this responsibility – but is this appropriate? And which other departments should be playing a greater role?

scholarly journals NEW BLOOD: Implications of en masse recruitment for the South African Police Service

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Bruce
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Civil Service ◽  
Class Formation ◽  
The South ◽  
Police Service ◽  
South Africans ◽  
South African Police Service ◽  
And Gender ◽  
South African Police

This article is concerned with the process of en masse recruitment implemented within the South African Police Service since 2002. As a result of this process the personnel strength of the SAPS has increased dramatically from 120 549 in 2002 to 199 345 in 2012, an increase of over 65%. A large proportion of SAPS personnel are now people who have joined since 1994 and particularly since 2002. En masse recruitment has in part addressed the legacy of apartheid by promoting racial and gender representativeness in the SAPS. In so doing it has facilitated entry into the civil service by a significant number of black, and particularly African,South Africans, thus contributing to ‘class formation’. At the same time the process does not ensure political non-partisanship on the part of the SAPS. It also has not necessarily contributed to ‘better policing’ in South Africa. While it may have increased the potential that the SAPS will enjoy legitimacy, this cannot be achieved by recruitment alone.

scholarly journals A WATCHDOG WITHOUT TEETH? The Independent Complaints Directorate

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johan Burger ◽  
Cyril Adonis
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Disciplinary Action ◽  
Police Misconduct ◽  
Research Project ◽  
Police Custody ◽  
Police Service ◽  
Police Action ◽  
The Republic

The Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD) was established in 1997 to promote proper police conduct and to ensure a transformed police service in line with the spirit and purport of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. Concerns within the ICD that the police very often do not comply with their recommendations led to a joint ICD/ISS research project to investigate these concerns. The study eventually concludes that the ICD is relatively successful in cases of death in police custody or as a result of police action, but with regards to police misconduct and recommendations for disciplinary action, it is largely ignored by the police.

scholarly journals Cops and robbers - a new approach: The Gauteng Aggravated Robbery Strategy

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gareth Newham
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Community Safety ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Police Service ◽  
South African Police Service ◽  
Cops And Robbers ◽  
South African Police

During 2006, substantial increases were recorded in residential and business robberies in Gauteng. Along with hijackings, these three subcategories of aggravated robbery were collectively referred to as the 'Trio Crimes'. After various policing operations failed to adequately reduce the Trio Crimes in Gauteng, the Gauteng Department of Community Safety undertook research into international best practice for combating residential and business robberies. The findings of this research formed the basis for the Gauteng Aggravated Robbery Strategy, which was subsequently developed and implemented in partnership with the Gauteng South African Police Service (SAPS). This initiative provides a case study of the role that provincial governments could play in supporting the police to reduce crime in South Africa.

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