OPINION ISS TODAY PIECE
New SA crime trends are bleak, but at least we have the data Information sharing and partnerships are reasons for hope despite the dismal state of crime and policing in South Africa. 13 June 2022. By Andrew Faull, Senior Researcher, Justice and Violence Prevention, ISS Pretoria. Republished from https://issafrica.org/iss-today/new-sa-crime-trends-are-bleak-but-at-least-we-have-the-data?utm_ source=BenchmarkEmail&utm_campaign=ISS_Today&utm_medium=email.
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urder is up, police morale is down, and reform is imperative. But precisely what is broken in the South African Police Service (SAPS), and how will we know when it’s improving? Without defining the problem, wellintentioned activities risk missing their mark. Progress in crime and policing requires data, partnerships and leaders willing to focus attention on when, where and around whom harm is greatest. Crime and policing in South Africa are in a dire state, but the SAPS’ willingness to share some information with the public gives a faint silver lining
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SECURITY FOCUS AFRICA JUNE 2022
to an otherwise dark cloud. On 3 June, the SAPS released crime statistics for the first three months of 2022. The data revealed an alarming 22% surge in murder, equating to a rate of 40 per 100 000 residents or seven times the global average. All other categories of serious violent crime also increased. In the same week, the parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Police discussed the findings of a 2021 SAPS ‘climate survey’ on the morale and internal environment in the service. It revealed a state of dire mistrust among members. Roughly half of police believed their
colleagues were dishonest (53%), abused their power (54%), weren’t self-disciplined (51%) and didn’t conduct themselves ethically (47%) or professionally (47%).
After a 22% surge in murder, the rate in South Africa is seven times the global average The survey also painted a picture of crushingly low morale. Thirty-eight percent didn’t look forward to work in the morning; 41% were dissatisfied
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