The recent release of the annual crime statistics by the police does not bring good news for the people of Gauteng.
The crimes that people are most scared of, according to the latest Victims of Crime Survey, are contact crimes such as murder, attempted murder, assault and robbery.
In Gauteng, all of these categories have seen an increase, totalling 473 incidents a day, up from 458 per day in the previous reporting period of 2014/ 15. In addition to the 11 people murdered in Gauteng every day, a further 13 people face murder attempts and another 117 people are grievously assaulted.
The rate of murder is often a reflection of societal pressures and violence which will need to be addressed through social interventions dealing with behavioural issues. It is important for us to establish the reasons behind these increases and how they relate to policing and police management. The question that must be asked is whether the dissolution of the specialised units has contributed to increases in specific crimes.
Could the lack of a specialised unit to deal with organised crime be a reason for the increased number of car hijackings in the province, to about 20 per day?
The increased numbers of people found to be driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol may also be an indicator that many of the other crimes reported may be linked to drug and alcohol use.
How much could this have been addressed by re-introducing the Narcotics Units? The crime stats do not paint a pretty picture for Gauteng and create a negative environment for economic investment.
It requires concerted efforts by the police and the community to work together to reduce crime.
