Crimes like business robberies, stock theft, theft out of motor vehicles, drug-related crimes and driving under the influence of alcohol all increased over the past year.
Business robberies increased by 7.5 %, stock theft, theft out of motor vehicles and drug-related crimes increased by 1.5%, 4.8% and 15.6% respectively, while driving under the influence of alcohol was up 4.5%.
“The increase in driving under the influence was worrying, as it followed a 2.9% in 2010/11,” Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa said when he released the 2011/2012 crime statistics today, 20 September 2012.
The seriousness with which government viewed crimes against small business, required a comprehensive and holistic strategy to ensure that the phenomenon was addressed in all its dimensions, he added. “We need to implement a shared vision, a collective and integrated approach, business involvement and participation and improved crime-prevention.”
A strategy to combat and reduce robberies at small business had been finalised and through the Civilian Secretariat of Police; there would be engagement with relevant parties to ensure the implementation of the strategy within the next few weeks.
Most other crime have deceased in the past financial year. Organised crimes such as carjacking, cash-in-transit heists and bank robberies have decreased. There was a 4.6% decrease in common robberies, an 11.9% decline for carjacking and 1.9% for house robberies . With regards to trio crimes, there was a decline in two of the trio crimes for the financial year 2011/12.
“Motor vehicle theft and carjacking are more organised in nature and frequently linked to the export of stolen or hijacked vehicles across the borders of the Republic of South Africa. We are encouraged by the work done by the crime intelligence, working with various SAPS units and this collaboration resulted in a number of arrests thus disrupting and halting some of these syndicates,” Mthethwa said
There has also been a dramatic decrease in cash-in-transits, which dropped by 37.5%, while bank robberies decreased by 10.3%. Also encouraging, was the decrease in ATM bombings which decreased by 34.6% in the 2011/12 financial year, the Minister said.
The crime statistics also show a marginal 2% decrease in burglary at residential premises.
Earlier today the minister also released statistics that showed murder declined by 3.1% between April 1 last year and March 31 this year, along with declines in a number of other crimes such as attempted murder, assault and common assault, sexual offences and rape. Research by the police’s Crime Research and Statistics unit revealed that about 65% of murders began as assaults resulting from interpersonal, often alcohol or drug-fuelled, arguments.
Aggravated robbery – the second-largest generator of other contact crimes, particularly attempted murder and murder – because victims are sometimes killed or seriously injured during such robberies – decreased by 1.4%. However, during the 2010/11 financial year, the robbery with aggravating circumstances ratio decreased by 12%.
These figures were particularly encouraging, the minister said, adding that the progress, to a large extent, could be attributed to better coordination and information-sharing between the SAPS and the various role-players. “Such declines were not achieved through sheer luck but through well-coordinated planning, partnerships with the business and banking sectors and we shall continue to sustain these partnerships.
The Minister welcomed the National Prosecuting Agency’s (NPA) decision to charge people with murder instead of culpable homicide when death resulted from car accidents – when they were under the influence.
Also earier today Mthethwa said the police were encouraged by the continuing decrease in attempted murder (5.2%), assault to do grievous bodily harm (4.2%) and common assault (3.4%).
He said contact crimes – murder, attempted murder, sexual offences, assault to do grievous bodily harm, common assault, aggravated robbery and common robbery – fell by 3.5%. This follows a fall by an almost 7% decline in contact crimes in 2010/11 and a 35% drop in contact crimes in the last eight years. All provinces this year experienced declines in contact crime, with the exception of the Free State, Limpopo and the Western Cape.
While sexual offences fell by 3.7%, rape only decreased by 1.9% and more police resources and mechanisms are being put in place, said Mthethwa.
Rape and sexual assault was a challenging category to police.
“It is also influenced by a reporting behaviour. If victims trust the police, then you will get more reporting. So the issue of under-reporting remains a challenge and not just in South Africa, but internationally,” said Mthethwa.
The Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences unit was re-established in 2009 and the unit has helped secure convictions of 10 345 years for criminals under the age of 18.
For victims over the age of 18, the unit helped secure convictions that totalled 10 854 years and 131 life sentences.
The Minister also called on community members to desist from buying and selling stolen goods – including CDs and DVDs and to take part in neighbourhood safety forums.
News courtsesy of : SAnews.gov.za
(Edited)
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