Quarterly Crime announcement welcomed by Minister Plato | Western Cape Government

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Quarterly Crime announcement welcomed by Minister Plato

9 June 2016

Statement by Dan Plato, Western Cape Minister of Community Safety

I welcome the Post-Cabinet today’s announcement by Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Jeff Radebe, that crime statistics will be made available on a quarterly basis.

This confirms a view long held by the Western Cape Government that the availability of more regular crime stats will enable the SAPS to speed up their resource responses to crime. It will also empower communities and safety structures to adapt quicker responses as well.

Crime stats should not belong only to the police but should be used to inform the public of risks in their communities and empower strategic action from the entire safety fraternity.

National Government’s agreement to our view is a victory for every resident in the country who realises safety is everyone’s responsibility, and who wants to play their part in creating safer environments in their communities.

Annual crime statistics are not informing proactive efforts from law enforcement, different spheres of government, the safety fraternity or the community at large.

The actual number of reported crimes as displayed in the annual crime statistics mean very little if these figures are not used to help inform safety interventions to ultimately reduce crime.

The Department of Community Safety in the Western Cape has legislated

through the Community Safety Act (Act 3 of 2013), in Section 19.1a (VI) that the Provincial Commissioner must report in writing and within the prescribed time period provide statistical information regarding the number and nature of crimes reported to the police.

With the final regulations pertaining to the act to be released by the end of June 2016, we welcome the announcement by Minister Radebe today as a sign of support for our provincial regulation.

We look forward to receiving the first batch of crime statistics for the province in accordance with the regulations.

A whole-of-society approach towards safety needs to be more proactive and intelligence driven. The quarterly release of crime statistics are a step in the right direction.

Media Enquiries: 

Ewald Botha
Spokesperson
Cell: 079 694 1113