a better gauteng is in the making the gauteng aggravated robbery strategy institute for security...
TRANSCRIPT
A better Gauteng is in the making
The Gauteng Aggravated Robbery Strategy
Institute for Security Studies8 October 2009
A better Gauteng is in the making
CONTENT OF THE PRESENTATION
The challenge & nature of aggravated robbery in Gauteng.
The background to the strategy. The Gauteng Aggravated Robbery Strategy. Challenges and successes.
A better Gauteng is in the making
The challenge of aggravated robbery in GautengAggravated robbery refers to a criminal incident
where a perpetrator uses the direct threat of violence against a victim, typically with a firearm, to steal their valuables.
During 2008/09 a total of 50 886 cases were recorded in Gauteng – an average of 140 per day.
Gauteng records 42% of all cases recorded in South Africa.
With a victimisation rate of 487 cases per 100 000 people, Gauteng residents are almost twice as likely to fall victim than the average South African resident.
A better Gauteng is in the making
The sub-categories of aggravated robbery Category Number in
08/09% change07/08
% change 03/04
Street robbery 27 853 (55%)
- 14.3% - 39.7%
Residential robbery 8 122 (16%) 11% 51.1%
Vehicle hijacking 7 626 (15%) 2.1% - 14.2%
Business robbery 6 216 (12%) 21.9% 166.2%
Truck hijacking 891 (2%) 18.2% 90.8%
Cash-in-Transit heists
126 (0.2%) 5.9% 59.5%
Bank robbery 52 (0.1%) - 38.8% 225%
Total 50 886 (100%)
- 0.2% - 19.7%
A better Gauteng is in the making
Trio robbery trend 2002/03 to 2008/09
0
5000
10000
15000
20000
25000
Financial Years
Cas
es
Rec
ord
ed
Residential 4831 5375 5608 6196 7732 7314 8122
Business 2662 2335 2115 3148 4492 5098 6216
Hijacking 9587 8891 7208 7237 7314 7466 7626
Total 17080 16601 14931 16581 19538 19878 21964
'2002-03 2003-4 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09'
A better Gauteng is in the making
The nature of aggravated robbery CIT heists, bank robberies & some Trio robberies tend
to be committed by relatively small number of highly organised groups.
Most Trio robberies committed by groups of 2 or 3 people.
Perpetrators are likely to have committed other crimes such as street robbery and ‘graduate’ to Trio crimes due to the economic incentives involved.
Difficult crimes to police as perpetrators have many ‘targets’ to choose from & carefully plan their attacks.
Growth in Trio crimes partly as a result of low chance of being arrested and convicted.
There are a limited number of perpetrators who are linked to networks & they always leave evidence behind.
A better Gauteng is in the making
Background to the Strategy Lessons from Operation Iron Fist – 2006● Shortcomings of typical visible policing tactics.● Shortcomings of station led policing.
Research into robbery reduction – 2007● Robberies decrease with an increase in the
arrest and incarceration of perpetrators.● Intelligence & information analysis is key.● Specialised investigation units are needed.● Integrated multi-agency approaches work best.
A better Gauteng is in the making
The Gauteng Aggravated Robbery StrategyThe strategy was develop jointly by the
Department of Community Safety and the Gauteng SAPS in 2008.
The strategy was canvassed with the NPA and other law enforcement agencies.
The key objective of the strategy was to substantially increase the arrest, prosecution and conviction rates of the direct perpetrators & those in their support networks.
Overseen by a Joint Steering Committee comprised of SAPS and the MEC for Community Safety.
A better Gauteng is in the making
Key Components of the StrategyStrengthening crime intelligence and
analysis.Establishment of specialised investigation
task teams.Enhancing forensic support to investigators.Improving rapid response to robberies.Intelligence led disruption operations. Improving case management through the
CJS.Establishment of the Crime Management
Centre for coordination and technical assistance.
A better Gauteng is in the making
Key Challenges & successesChallenges Adapting to a new strategy. Capacity constraints. Promoting an integrated approach.Successes Improvements in arrests, prosecution and conviction
rates since 2007. Although an evaluation will soon be conducted, there
are signs that the strategy may be starting to bear fruit as for Gauteng as a whole in 2009:● Residential robbery decreased in April, May, June and
August.● Hijacking decreased in April & stabilised in May & June. ● Business robbery stabilised in August for the first time
since 2005/06.
A better Gauteng is in the making
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