National crime stats don’t make for pretty reading

THE South African Police Service (SAPS) released its annual crime statistics for the 2013/14 financial year on Friday but the stats don’t make for pretty reading. The stats show an alarming range of increases in certain crime categories. House robberies, hijackings, murders and attempted murder all incresead in percentages.

Currently, South Africa has one police officer for every 346 South Africans.

For the year under review, there was an increase in murder, attempted murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances.

Overall, murder decreased by 9.2 per cent over the past 10 years (2004/05 to 2013/14), but showed an increase of 5 per cent in the 2013/14 financial year.

This means 17 068 people were murdered in SA last year.

Murder went up in all provinces, except in the Free State. Gauteng recorded an increase of 11.2 per cent.

“We are very concerned about this trend,” said national police commissioner Riyah Phiyega on Friday.

Attempted murder also went up by 4.6 per cent, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm increased by 1.5 per cent and robbery with aggravated circumstances was up by 12.7 per cent.

Common assault was reported to be down by 3.3 per cent and sexual offences decreased by 5.6 per cent, with rape and sexual assault dropping by 6.3 per cent.

The Eastern Cape recorded the highest number of rapes.

“These are crimes where police arrive after the fact and which happen behind closed doors,” Phiyega said, adding that police will continue to increase their visibility in communities.

House robberies increase

Trio crimes, which are crimes relating to personal safety and business, such as house robbery, business robbery and carjacking – remained stubborn, as they increased by 10.8 per cent nationally.

Carjackings increased by 12.3 per cent, truck hijackings recorded a 12.1 per cent increase, robbery recorded a 13.7 per cent increase, and robbery in residential areas increased by 7.4 per cent.