Thapelo Sakoana
15 August 2007
South Africa's busiest province experienced a significant decrease in crime over the past six months as the police improved their visibility and stepped up their arrest rates, says Gauteng Safety and Security Minister Firoz Cachalia.
Reporting on crime trends in Gauteng between January and June in Johannesburg this week, Cachalia said the police had increased their visibility increased their arrest rates.
"However, it is too early for the police to celebrate this achievement, as a lot of work still needs to be done," Cachalia added. "Over this period, there has been a systematic improvement in the fight against crime. There is stabilisation, but this doesn't mean we can relax."
Cachalia said the police conducted conducted 7 750 roadblocks, 6 029 cordon and search operations, 75 869 vehicle patrols and 79 881 foot patrols throughout the province between January and June.
This had resulted in a total of 672 168 vehicles being searched, representing an additional 106 921 vehicles or an increase of 18.9% when compared to the same period in 2006.
About 1.4-million people were searched - an increase of over 280 000 over the same first half of 2006 - while a total of 2 500 targeted suspect raids were also conducted in a bid to capture suspects identified as being involved in serious crimes.
At the same time, 2 104 hijacked or stolen motor vehicles were recovered, as well as 8 168 illegal firearms.
Improving arrest rates
Cachalia said the fact that the police had improved their arrest rates was an indicator that they were getting better at targeting the perpetrators of crime.
"Each time the police arrest suspects, they are able to get more information about their methods, accomplices and networks. This allows us to further target these criminals, which will ultimately lead to a reduction in crime."
During the first half of the year, a total of 650 arrests were made for residential robbery, an increase of 43.8% compared to the same period last year.
Hijackings also decreased by 10.7% over the first half of the year, with a total of 375 suspects arrested, representing an increase of 98.4% in the arrest rate compared to the first six months of last year.
"During the first six months of 2007, a total of 199 arrests were made for business robbery. This represents an increase of 243% when compared to the first six months of 2006," Cachalia said.
The arrest rates in other violent crime categories also improved, with the police recording the following arrests:
- 1 246 arrests for murder (a 22.8% increase over 2006).
- 1 015 arrests for attempted murder (3.6% increase).
- 2 277 arrests for rape (28.1% increase).
- 2 960 arrests for all types of aggravated robbery (27.6% increase).
- 2 644 arrests for common robbery (9.1% increase).
- 14 844 arrests for assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm (16.3% increase).
- 9 039 arrests for common assault (12.3% increase).
Cachalia's announcement follows a call by Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula for South Africans to get to know crime patterns in their local areas and intervene properly through community policing forums.
Cachalia said he believed that communities and the police could work together to consolidate policing in areas that faced more challenges than others.
"I believe that the truth sets you free, and releasing these crime trends will bring the necessary pressure for positive change," he said.
"There is the beginning of positive trends in Gauteng and, for consistency, we have to work harder."
Source: BuaNews
