Violence associated with inter-group conflict, such as political conflicts, taxi violence and land disputes are unacceptably common in South Africa and pose a threat to democratic tolerance and orderly co-existence. After the presentation the chairperson, Mr Molekane, gave the audience a chance to question Commissioner Fivaz on the presentation. The magnitude of the challenge should not be under-estimated. This pillar will be addressed at a national level by 8 key programmes designed to revamp and energise the criminal justice system as a whole. In particular, the NCPS strategy team has conducted an in-depth study of the causes of crime. Crime prevention works Your area needs a crime prevention strategy because it is the best way to reduce crime. The NCPS Co-ordinating mechanism will be responsible for communicating the NCPS, both within government and publicly. Nevertheless, it provides a critical starting point for the more effective utilization of police, prosecutors and limited prison capacity. An outline of some of the most important ongoing actions is presented in section 5 below. Integrate the workings of the five agencies involved with regulation of ports of entry. The very high, and often unrealised, expectations associated with transition have contributed to the justification of crime. An effective communications strategy, based on reliable information, is important in properly informing public opinion in the fight against crime. Since the advent of democracy and the re-integration of South Africa into the international community, we have seen a rapid growth in this form of crime. South Africain 1996 established the National Crime Prevention Strategy (NCPS). Gender inequality, both in terms of popular attitudes and the inadequate service offered buy the criminal justice system to women, contributes to the high levels of violence perpetrated against women. Improve coordination between South African agencies responsible for border regulation, the control of ports of entry, the implementation of immigration policy. Murder is the most reliable crime statistic and the best proxy for violence more broadly. In order to deal with the threat of crime the government had to develop policing strategies which would eradicate crime and fear of crime. Comparative research, from countries such as the former Soviet Union and Northern Ireland, suggests that all forms of crime increase during periods of political transition. Finally, some of the co The direct and indirect costs of crime to individuals, families, neighbourhoods, business, government and the This will support better decision-making, resource allocation and strategic planning. The National Crime Prevention Strategy (NCPS) The South African cabinet adopted the National Crime Prevention Strategy (NCPS) in May 1996. Business Against Crime was paying for the implementation of the strategy. This strategy is based on a comprehensive analysis of the present crime situation. Enhance crime awareness to underpin the development of strong community values and social pressure against criminality. Changing our habits by setting rules and positioning signage in appropriate locations. Speed up the implementation of legislation to restrict money laundering. The Prevention of Organized Crime Act addresses this growing phenomenon in South Africa. This may require the development of new capacity and the use of outside resources and expertise; Consultation with civil society around crime prevention should aim to give effect to the contribution that can potentially be made from civil society. The Department of Social Development Crime Prevention and Support Programme aims to provide a range of specialised probation services to persons (children, youth and adults) in conflict with the law and their victims to reduce recidivism, through: ... Outward Bound South Africa. Organised Crime, including the organised smuggling of illegal immigrants and narcotics, and gangsterism, serve to generate higher levels of criminality and violence. The investigative and prosecutorial priority placed on different offences, is a key factor in the effective use of resources. Rule Setting. These are by no means exhaustive and it is envisaged that other programmes will be initiated in the near future, at national, provincial and at local level. Manage the effective implementation of the Aliens Control Act of 1995. Lead agency: Safety and Security, supported by Justice, the Independent Complaints Directorate, Intelligence agencies, the Departments of Finance, Trade and Industry, The Public Service Commission and Public Protector, Private Sector, Professional and Consumer bodies and the Committee on Harmful Business Practises. The absence of services to victims of crime means that the negative impact of crime on individual, family and community is largely ignored. In order to optimise investigative and court capacity, as well as to build public confidence, a clear prosecutorial policy is required. <> Development of criteria in line with the priority crimes described above and guidelines for sentencing which are canvassed with the Judiciary. Not only does this contribute to the incidence of repeat victimisation, but may lead to retributive violence, or the perpetration of other crimes displaced into the social or domestic arena. Active support is required for the development of greater awareness and capacity in the field of environmental crime prevention. The Chicago cops are in South Africa to exchange ideas about crime prevention with the South African Police Service (SAPS). It inhibits our citizens from communicating with one another freely, from engaging in economic activity and prevents entrepreneurs and investors from taking advantage of the opportunities which our country offers. The imposition of prison sentences on minor offenders reduces the likelihood of re-integration into society and further burdens the criminal justice system. This programme will focus both South African and regional law enforcement and intelligence resources on trans-national organised crime. <>>> Youthful offenders suspected of serious offences should not be held in standard prison or police cells. The National Crime Prevention Strategy was initiated by the Cabinet in March 1995. Establish mechanisms for law enforcement agencies to access the National ID system where required. Lead agency: Education, Correctional Services, Justice, Welfare (Youth at Risk Committee), Safety and Security, Home Affairs, Health, Provincial Education authorities and NGO's. International and regional criminal syndicates have a large influence in promoting crime in South Africa. "This paper aims to provide a broad overview of the emerging policy framework in relation to local government crime prevention, as well as the reasons for this approach. This could be achieved through the introduction of a universal Motor Vehicle Parts marking system, as wall as an improved licensing system, and through other measures which have yet to be assessed. Although committed to the programmes contained herein, the government sees this document as representing a working strategy, which should be refined, changed and improved on the basis of feedback and experience. The prevailing moral climate within communities, attitudes towards crime, and the willingness of citizens and communities to take responsibility for crime are critical factors in reducing tolerance towards crime, and hence reducing crime levels. Where murder is common, so is other violence. Crime prevention cannot be tackled by government alone, or by one sector of government alone. 2015-09-29. endobj It also involves making more effective use of existing "intelligence". chemical castration of sex offenders. Lead agency: Safety and Security assisted by Justice, Correctional Services, Welfare, private sector and NGO's. It requires an integrated, multi-agency approach where all relevant departments view crime prevention as a shared responsibility and collective priority; Substantially increased expenditure on security is not possible. Unblock blockages in process between investigation, arrest, prosecution and conviction. The rights and freedoms which the constitution entrenches are threatened every time a citizen becomes a victim of crime. Although poverty does not directly lead to higher crime levels, together with a range of other sociopolitical and cultural factors, it contributes to conditions for an increase in crime and the growth of criminal syndicates and gangs. Extensive white collar crime complements organised crime and helps to promote a sense of lawlessness. Lead agency: Welfare, through the interministerial committee on Young People at Risk, which includes the department of Justice, Safety and Security and Correctional Services. Lead agency: Safety and Security, Defence, Trade and Industry, Justice, Foreign Affairs, National Intelligence Coordinating Committee, South African Secret Service, Home Affairs and the South African Revenue Service (SARS). South African Government www.gov.za Let's grow South Africa together In particular, it requires the development of wider responsibility for crime prevention and a shift in emphasis from reactive "crime control"; which deploys most resources towards responding after crimes have already been committed, towards proactive "crime prevention" aimed at preventing crime from occurring at all. NATIONAL CRIME PREVENTION STRATEGY: PRESENTATION Commissioner Fivaz, National Commissioner of the South African Police Services, gave a slide presentation on the National Crime Prevention Strategy. Integration of public sources of information and analysis with "intelligence" gathered by other means, and making certain crime intelligence more widely available to facilitate local initiatives and community empowerment. Lead agency: NICOC (National Intelligence Coordinating Committee), assisted by Justice, Defence, Safety and Security, Correctional Services, Welfare, the South African Secret Service, academic analysts and NGO's who focus on crime trends and syndicates. Establish institutional capacity to research, advise and monitor environmental design within the private sector and to develop an environmental design policy for government. The maximisation of civil society's participation in mobilising and sustaining crime prevention initiatives. The advent of democracy in South Africa brought hope for freedom and prosperity for millions of South Africans. Policing strategies, policies, and models in South Africa o 4.1 The Constitution of South Africa o 4.2 The 1996 National Crime Prevention Strategy o 4.3 The 1998 White Paper on Safety and Security o 4.4 The South African Police Act, 68 of 1995 o 4.5 The Reservists Policy of 2009 o 4.6 Summary of the nature of the South African Police Service systems and its guiding documents. Olutola, A. The production of materials for teacher training and classroom facilitation. Speed up the preparation of key legislation which is necessary in supporting crime prevention efforts. Pillar 1: The Criminal Justice Process aims to make the criminal justice system more efficient and effective. This is based on comparative international research and pays attention to the particular South African factors which underlie high crime levels. In one sense all crime is related, in that the proliferation of petty offences creates a sense of lawlessness, within which the community is more likely to turn a blind eye to much more serious offences. Both Business Against Crime and NGO' s concerned with crime prevention have made a substantial contribution to this strategy. For these reasons, the Government regards the prevention of crime as a national priority. The development of a set of national programmes which serve to kick start and focus the efforts of various government departments in delivering quality service aimed at solving the problems leading to high crime levels. A Decade of Crime Prevention in South Africa. Recognising that local authorities, especially those in urban areas, have a central role to play in crime prevention, local governments will be encouraged both to review and refine this NCPS, and to implement local crime prevention programmes. Create networks between departments for data concerning cases, suspects and convicts which will enable shared use of systems, cost saving and improvements in efficiency. To increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the criminal justice system as a deterrent to crime and as a source of relief and support to victims. Other strategies are not directly prohibited but may raise some debate if considered as a crime prevention measure e.g. The historic marginalisation of the youth, combined with the slow growth in the job market, has contributed to the creation of a large pool of "at risk"; young people. SA lacks clear strategies to reduce serious violent crime. %���� Some of these factors are outlined below: It is important to recognise that there is no single cause of crime in South Africa. Facilitate education and publicity on the applications of this ID system for private and public service providers. The strategy is the result of an extensive process of research and analysis and has drawn on international experiences. Implement legislative steps and social programmes to discourage the exploitation of juveniles by criminal syndicates. This principle of "dis-aggregation" runs through the NCPS and means that we deal with car hijacking in a way which is quite distinct from corruption, murder or child abuse. Historically shaped, poverty and underdevelopment provide key contextual factors in understanding increasing crime levels. ... P. Bag X680, Pretoria 0001, South Africa , Emeka E. Obioha Department of Safety and Security Management, Tshwane ... the community policing strategy in the township is yet to produce the expected results on crime prevention. SCP – Situational Crime Prevention UN – United Nations SWAPO – South-west African People′s Organisation In the past, legislation which relates to crime prevention has not been co-ordinated in a coherent programme. Implement a victim support programme, based on surveys of victims' experiences of the criminal justice system. Changing the physical environment in a specific way could therefore create challenges for certain types of crime to be committed and may reduce incidents of crime and violence in a particular area. Rather, the strategy should comprise distinct, effectively driven, critical programmes that focus on removing blockages, boosting the system, and synergising departmental contributions. The physical (built) environment is often an important contributing factor in determining whether a crime is likely, or unlikely, to occur in a particular location. Community-oriented policing: a systematic approach to policing. Quality information is essential for investigation, prosecution and sentencing and is crucial in deciding how best to use limited resources. Provide basic information to complainants and victims regarding the progress of all cases, as well as key information which enables victims to lay complaints more easily. SAPS – South African Police Service S.A.R.A. Given fiscal constraints, it is vital to improve public information and harness greater citizen responsibility and involvement in crime prevention. Formal schooling provides an opportunity for the creation of responsible and empowered citizenship at an early age. Keywords: Crime, Strategy, Sustainable Governance Introduction crime diverts resources to protection efforts, exacts health costs through increased stress, and generally CCORDING TO THE National Crime A Prevention Strategy, high levels of crime pose a serious threat to South … Mobilise and coordinate border policing resources in Southern Africa. This is a well-recognised and widely practised approach to crime prevention, and … Pillar 3: Public Values and Education concern initiatives aimed at changing the way communities react to crime and violence. This will also reduce recidivism within this sector. Review the progress of all legislation promoted by a departments which will contribute to crime prevention. Speed up the Implementation of a new ID system which utilises an Automated Fingerprint Identification System, as well as the implementation of a network which allows "on-line"checking of ID validity. This applies not only to the Cabinet, and the departments concerned with security and justice, but also to all other national departments which are able to make a contribution to a reduction in crime levels. In support of police action, it is vital to reduce the ease with which this commodity is recycled into cash. Large-scale illegal immigration has received the most public attention, although its contribution to crime levels is probably overrated. This prioritisation must be understood in the context of provincial and local differences and should not be cast in stone. This programme involves the development of a focused, needs-based public education programme, which aims to alter public attitudes and responses to crime and to activities which support crime. The National Crime Prevention Strategy is primarily a long-term programme aimed at creating conditions in which the opportunities and motivation for crime will be reduced, as well as transforming the capacity of the criminal justice system to deal with crime. However, existing information systems are outdated, fragmented and sometimes require arduous manual search and retrieval of data. Government must ensure that effective planning and sustainable success in reducing crime will reach well into the next century. Establish consensus with role players on major prevention initiatives in respect of vehicle crime. 1998. These priority crimes are also the focus of the core national programmes which are described in section 6. Implementation will be on the basis of the following principles: The Ministry for Safety and Security has been tasked with ensuring the success of the NCPS. The four initial national programmes covered here exist in areas where the needs are well established. Consultants are busy identifying the most important problem areas and a Cross-cutting Task Group is working to integrate policy and management between police, courts, prisons, and welfare agencies. This NCPS strategy document provides sufficient detail to underpin the implementation of the NCPS as a part of the Growth and Development Strategy. The high incidence of many forms of crime is due to an environment which provides ample opportunities for crime, and where risks of detection, or prosecution are low. To encourage awareness of the possibilities of environmental design in reducing and preventing crime. The criminal justice system is enormously costly and often inappropriate for dealing with petty offenders, particularly juveniles, where stigmatisation can pose an intolerable burden on the normal developmental path to responsible adult citizenship. Linked to this programme was the need to improve the registration process to avoid illegal licencing of vehicles. To forge inter-departmental integration of policy and management, in the interests of co-ordinated planning, coherent action and the effective use of resources. These are however, often disproportionately responsive to audible interest groups in society, rather than to less obvious, but important, crime issues. These will be co-ordinated through the Inter-Governmental Forum as well as through various MINMEC fora. The four pillar approach to crime prevention - a strategic framework, Pillar 1: National Programmes - The criminal justice process, Pillar 2: Reducing crime through environmental design, 8. Lead agency: Correctional Services, assisted by Welfare, the Department of Safety and Security, Justice, the Law commission and NGO's involved with offender rehabilitation. enabling condition for effective governance. It requires commitment, clarity of vision and leadership from within all national government institutions, provincial and local government, and participation by civil society. lncreasing the availability of community sentencing options on conviction increases humane treatment of minor offenders and will improve the effectiveness of corrections more widely by reducing the burden on the correctional services department. The initiative to develop a National Crime Prevention Strategy began in early February 1995 as a response to President Mandela's address at opening of Parliament, which raised concerns about crime. Activation of the structures of the ISDSC to provide for regional intelligence and security co-ordination. While environmental design to reduce crime is not new, no integrated policy has existed on this matter. Crime needs to be tackled in a comprehensive way, which means going beyond an exclusive focus on policing and the Justice system. In exploring this goal and objectives of the study, the researcher used Tech’s (in Creswell, 1994) data analysis framework to identify appropriate approaches to implementing the integrated social crime prevention strategy in South Africa. <> Copyright 2021 Government of South Africa. Improvement and control of linkages between police and prosecutors to improve efficiency, within the bounds of police impartiality and judicial independence. The National Crime Prevention Strategy represents a turning point in the battle against crime. Improved quality and effective use of information are critical factors in enhancing the efficiency of the criminal justice system as a whole and are the objects of this programme. The fact that a large proportion of the citizenry is armed serves to escalate the levels of violence associated with robbery, rape and car theft. While economic growth and development are crucial in addressing the factors which lead to crime, poorly managed development can itself contribute to increased crime rates. To improve the access of dis-empowered groups to the criminal justice process. This policy will rest with the Attorneys General (AG's) and it is vital that this programme should not impinge on the independence of the Judiciary. endobj The bulk of trans-national crime involves organised syndicates which are a major contributor to the increase in general crime levels. The departmental activities are centred on the priority crimes already listed. Approach of the National Crime Prevention Strategy, 5. The development of a pilot schools curriculum and the selection of pilot schools across the country. Murder and associated types of violence affect far more people, and cause far more harm than car hijackings, house robberies or cash-in-transit heists. This programme is aimed at improving and streamlining the development of legislation required to improve crime prevention. For it to fully succeed it requires the support of all South Africans who no longer wish to be victims or to live in fear. It means problem-solving to address the causal factors which provide opportunities for crime and limit the likelihood of detection. Pillar 4: Trans-national crime programmes aim at improving the controls over cross border traffic related to crime and reducing the refuge which the region offenders to international criminal syndicates. This National Crime Prevention Strategy is based on a fundamentally new approach by government. Civil Society bodies such as the Automobile Association and Business Against Crime the Taxi Industry and the panelbeating industry also have a key role to play. Lead agency: Welfare, assisted by the departments of Correctional Services, Justice, Defence, Safety and Security and non-governmental organisations concerned with child welfare and the rehabilitation of offenders. Available correctional resources must be used in a targeted way to deal more effectively with serious offenders. The problem of rising crime levels has become something of a "political football". The South African approach to crime prevention requires a combination of effective criminal justice (law enforcement) and a social crime prevention approach which is developmental in nature. This pillar will extend the development of security-based design of residential areas buildings and shopping centres. This programme aims to divert petty offenders and juveniles out of the criminal justice system. This requires the creation of special secure care facilities for young suspects and convicts. For it to fully succeed it requires the support of all South Africans who no longer wish to be victims or to live in fear.The strategy is based on the view that we need to build a new society, rather than simply normalise something which was never normal. It involves programmes which utilise public education and information in facilitating meaningful citizen participation in crime prevention. First, for the police service to improve public safety most effectively, it should focus a significant amount of its resources on reducing murder. Extend training to police and justice officials which introduces greater victim sensitivity, as well as referral to other service providers to address the effects of crime. Provincial governments will work together with us to implement the NCPS. A community crime prevention strategy is a framework for the crime prevention activities that will make your area safer. By providing a basic grounding in the workings of the criminal justice system as well as key life skills which build confidence and provide ammunition to deal with victimisation, this programme aims eventually to create new relations between citizens and to facilitate the administration of justice. In this regard, existing capacity within line departments must be prioritised to meet the overall objectives of the NCPS.