CRIME PREVENTION COMBATING Community Policing The Philosophy of

CRIME PREVENTION & COMBATING Community Policing : The Philosophy of Partnerships for better policing 1

Crime Prevention & Combating q. National Security: v. Constitutional Principle: • “National security must reflect the resolve of South Africans, as individuals and as a nation, to live as equals, to live in peace and harmony, to be free from fear and want and to seek a better life. ” [Chapter 11, Sec 198(a)] 2

Crime Prevention & Combating Ctd q. National Security: v. Role Players: va) Government: ØNational; ØProvincial; ØLocal q. Vehicle: Law Enforcement Agencies 3

Crime Prevention & Combating Ctd q. Guiding Principle: v“All governments have the duty to provide a minimum of community safety and personal security. (They) do this through the policing service they provide. The citizens are the consumers of this service and have a right to demand that the quality of this service meets their satisfaction. ” - ANC Policy Document, 1992 4

Crime Prevention & Combating Ctd q. National Security: vb) Communities: ØCommunity & Faith Based Organisations; ØLabour Movement; ØBusiness Sector; ØNon-Governmental Organisations 5

Crime Prevention & Combating Ctd q. Peace & Stability: v. Cornerstone of Government Vision: § Seeks to create a better life on basis of: ØEquality; ØJustice; ØSecurity; ØDevelopment; ØProsperity 6

Crime Prevention & Combating Ctd q Community Policing: v“Community policing has now been recognised as more effective because it understands that it is not the police alone who combat and prevent crime. It is the community who are largely responsible for criminal prosecutions. They lay charges, make statements, testify in court, and assist the police in the performance of their functions. Without this cooperation no police force can discharge its duties. ” -ANC Policy Document, 1992 7

Crime Prevention & Combating Ctd q. Community Policing Contd: v“Community policing is … ‘geographic policing’ where police … have a 24 -hour responsibility for policing ‘their’ locality. Often (it) means ‘maximal policing’ (because it is) a greater responsibility … than mere crimefighting. Indeed, police are expected to support overall community well-being and residents’ quality of life. ” – Understanding Policing, by Anneke Osse, 2006, Amnesty International 8

Crime Prevention & Combating Ctd DIAGRAM “A” Community Policing Community SAPS 9

Crime Prevention & Combating Ctd DIAGRAM “B” Present Situation SAPS Community CPF 10

Crime Prevention & Combating Ctd DIAGRAM “C” Future SAPS Community CPF 11

Crime Prevention & Combating Ctd q. Community Policing: v. Policing Priorities; v. Co-ownership of Policing Programme; v. Reciprocal Control; v. Performance Assessment; v. Accountability 12

Crime Prevention & Combating Ctd q. New Vision: v. Cabinet Clusters: § Established in 1999 for Joint Planning & Coordination § Security Cluster: ØJustice Crime Prevention & Security § Security Sector Ministries: ØCorrections, Defence, Home Affairs, Intelligence, Justice, Safety & Security 13

Crime Prevention & Combating Ctd q. New Vision: v. Criminal Justice System: § Integrated for maximum effect § Unbroken link between Safety & Security (Investigations & Arrests), Justice (Prosecutions & Convictions), Correctional Services (Detention & Rehabilitation) 14

Crime Prevention & Combating Ctd q. New Vision: v. Criminal Justice System: § Conditions for Peace & Stability including: Ø“Social mobilisation against crime and how to make the CPFs more effective and reflective of the entire Integrated Criminal Justice System. ” - Resolutions of ANC National Conference, Stellenbosch, 2002 15

Crime Prevention & Combating Ctd q. New Vision: v. Criminal Justice System: § Community Policing Fora relate to one part only of Criminal Justice System § Expanding them to cover the entire Integrated Criminal Justice System presupposes changes to name, tasks & law § However, no reinvention of the wheel 16

Crime Prevention & Combating Ctd q. New Vision: v. Criminal Justice System: ØPronouncements: • “Government will play its part to ensure that … partnerships actually work, and that we all act together to discharge the responsibility to protect our citizens. ” – President, February 9, 2007 State of the Nation Address 17

Crime Prevention & Combating Ctd q New Vision: v Criminal Justice System: Ø Pronouncements: • “Our government recognises the seriousness of the crime situation and will continue to provide leadership in the fight against crime. But, effective crime fighting depends on partnerships between our law enforcement agencies and communities. Through community police forums, all citizens have the opportunity to contribute towards making their communities safer. ” Minister of Finance, Budget Day, February 21, 2007 18

Crime Prevention & Combating Ctd q New Vision: v Criminal Justice System: § Community Safety Fora best to cover Integrated Justice System § CPFs be reconfigured to become CSFs THEREFORE RESOLVES: § “ 16. To legislate for the establishment of the Community Safety Forums. ” - ANC National Conference Resolutions, Stellenbosch, 2002 19

Crime Prevention & Combating Ctd q. Community Safety Fora: v. Functions: § Police: ØHelp root the police among the people through confidence-building programmes ØArrange regular community-police meetings, for the police to give reports on policing matters 20

Crime Prevention & Combating Ctd q. Community Safety Fora: v. Functions (Contd): § Police (Contd): ØHelp citizens to enjoy easy access to the police to report crimes & criminality ØHelp design anti-crime campaigns 21

Crime Prevention & Combating Ctd q. Community Safety Fora: v. Functions (Contd): § Justice: ØHelp communities to use the system of justice to access all their rights ØEmpower citizens, through workshops and seminars, to understand the Constitution and laws that impact on their lives 22

Crime Prevention & Combating Ctd q. Community Safety Fora: v. Functions (Contd): § Justice (Contd): ØEnsure that victim empowerment and support programmes are adopted and are run effectively to address victims’ traumatic experiences 23

Crime Prevention & Combating Ctd q. Community Safety Fora: § Corrections: ØEnsure the rehabilitation programme of the Department of Correctional Services continues to run even after the release of the offender for further assistance ØHelp reintegrate former offenders into the social life of their communities and economies therein 24

Crime Prevention & Combating Ctd q. Community Safety Fora: § Corrections (Contd): ØIdentify facilities to be converted into secure places of safety for children in conflict with the law and women who are in prison for petty offences 25

Crime Prevention & Combating Ctd q. Bill of Rights: v. Freedom of movement and residence: § Chapter 2, Section 21: Ø(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of movement Ø(2) Everyone has the right to leave the Republic 26

Crime Prevention & Combating Ctd Ø(3) Every citizen has the right to enter, to remain in and to reside anywhere in the Republic Ø(4) Every citizen has the right to a passport § The foregoing rights have been usurped by criminals § Legalising documents have been obtained through fraud & corruption 27

Crime Prevention & Combating Ctd q. Community Safety Fora: v. Functions: § Home Affairs: ØMonitor the activities of Home Affairs officials ØAssist members of the public to access easily Home Affairs services 28

Crime Prevention & Combating Ctd q. Community Safety Fora: v. Functions (Contd): § Home Affairs (Contd): ØEnsure all citizens have the necessary documentation to access government services at all levels ØHelp municipalities to establish immigration help points for better migration control 29

Crime Prevention & Combating Ctd q. Community Policing Fora: § CPFs continue to exist as seed whence CSFs will germinate § CPFs/CSFs linked to communities, police and government § CPFs/CSFs to exist Nationally, Provincially and at Local level 30

Crime Prevention & Combating Ctd q. Community Policing Fora: § Members of CPFs/CSFs to be elected by communities at public meetings on the basis of defined regulations § The best candidates to be elected on the basis of merit only § Candidates to be resident in the CPF area § CPFs/CSFs to be funded by government 31

Crime Prevention & Combating Ctd q. Interlinkages: CPFs/CSFs – Communities: § CPFs/CSFs to: ØEstablish dynamic relationship with communities on basis of regular and consistent interface, ØIdentify in communities committed energetic citizens to work with police as reservists or volunteers 32

Crime Prevention & Combating Ctd q Interlinkages (Contd): v CPFs/CSFs – Municipalities: ØLink up with the Chief Executive Officer of a municipality who is responsible for policing matters in the relevant municipality, in terms of Chapter 12, Sec 64 B of the South African Police Act ØSubmit proposals to the relevant municipality through the Chief Executive Officer for office space and other relevant services 33

Crime Prevention & Combating Ctd ØConvene regular report-back meetings to brief communities on all policy questions in the concerned areas 34

Crime Prevention & Combating Ctd q WAY FORWARD v Immediate Measures: § CPFs to: Ø Convene urgently community meetings and report on the exercise to redefine their work and character Ø Stress at such meetings necessity democratically to establish the CPFs Ø Arrange, in collaboration with the Secretariats for Safety and Security, meetings with municipalities & provinces 35

Crime Prevention & Combating Ctd v. Immediate Measures (Contd): ØGet meetings to discuss the resourcing of CPFs ØSit with police & define policing priorities § Secretariats to: ØEnsure CPFs are properly resettled & empowered to do their work ØLink up CPFs to the MECs’ offices and help with questions of policy and the law 36

Crime Prevention & Combating Ctd v. Immediate Measrures (Contd): § Legislation: ØAccelerate processes to change the law to accommodate the new arrangement ØChanges to the municipality laws to include matters to do with: – Municipal (Metro) Police as an integral part of SAPS – CPFs as a community structure to deal with policing matters in the given municipal areas 37

Crime Prevention & Combating Ctd v. Immediate Measures (Contd): § Legislation (Contd): ØChanges to the SAPS Act to help align the legislation to the stipulations at Sections 199 & 205 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Act namely that: • There shall be “a single police service” (Sec 199) • “The national police service must be structured to function in the national, provincial and, where appropriate, local spheres of government” (Sec 205) 38

Crime Prevention & Combating Ctd q. Conclusion: v. The redesign of the CPFs is one part of the mobilisation of communities to play a direct role in crime prevention and combating v. It does not absolve the State from its responsibility of providing security to all citizens v. Better community-police relations are crucial in the fight against crime 39

Crime Prevention & Combating Ctd v. CPFs are a key element in fostering good community-police relations and well-organised and appropriately resourced CPFs will best achieve improved relations between the police and the policed v. CPFs and other relevant legal structures should not wait for changes to the law but should effect the necessary steps to a better future 40

Crime Prevention & Combating Ctd q. CPFs/CSFs: Catalysts for better Community-Police Relations: v. Scenarios: ØEstablishment & Upkeep: • Community convenes public meeting & establishes CPF/CSF • Members are elected to serve on CPF/CSF • Municipality avails office space for CPF/CSF • Secretariat for Safety & Security invokes democratic best practice to conduct elections 41

Crime Prevention & Combating Ctd q. CPFs/CSFs: Catalysts for better Community-Police Relations (Contd): v. Scenarios (Contd): • Municipality pays for water, electricity & other services • MEC responsible for community safety & security pays stipends & allowances 42

Crime Prevention & Combating Ctd q. CPFs/CSFs: Catalysts for better Community-Police Relations (Contd): v. Scenarios (Contd): ØCPFs/CSFs & Law Eforcement: • SAPS installs at offices communication means for crime prevention & combating • CPFs/CSFs agree with police on policing priorities & use those to assess & evaluate police performance 43

Crime Prevention & Combating Ctd q. CPFs/CSFs: Catalysts for better Community-Police Relations (Contd): v. Scenarios (Contd): ØCPFs/CSFs & Law Enforcement (Contd): • Communities identify suitable candidates to be recruited into police reservist ranks, on basis of trustworthiness & commitment; • Police train reservists in basic policing work; • Reservists to work alongside police in patrols, roadblocks & cordon & search operations 44

Crime Prevention & Combating Ctd q. CPFs/CSFs: Catalysts for better Community-Police Relations (Contd): v. Scenarios (Contd): ØCPFs. CSFs & Communities: • CPFs/CSFs help root police in communities • CPFs/CSFs convene meetings regularly (Bimonthly/Quarterly) to report back to communities • Police give at such meetings reports on crime trends, successes &I weaknesses 45

Crime Prevention & Combating Ctd q. CPFs/CSFs: Catalysts for better Community-Police Relations (Contd): v. Scenarios (Contd): ØCPFs/CSFs & Communities (Contd): • CPFs/CSFs discuss & agree with communities on anti-crime campaigns to be mounted in the communities • CPFs/CSFs mobilise people with relevant skills in community to offer services as volunteers 46

THE END THANK YOU 47