IT tool earns Gauteng more detectives

Johannesburg, 24 Jun 2008

The police are to allocate about 1 500 more detectives to Gauteng after a provincial IT-based management toolset found the region lacked enough investigators.

The province's MEC for Community Safety, Firoz Cachalia, says the Gauteng Information on Police Performance System (GIPPS) found the shortage while assessing the state of law enforcement at the region's about 130 police stations.

Cachalia yesterday told the provincial Parliament that, as a result of the findings, the SA Police Service (SAPS) has prioritised Gauteng in the National SAPS Detective Commanders Programme.

"We can expect to receive an additional 1 453 detectives in Gauteng by 31 March 2009," he said.

GIPPS is styled after the New York Police Department's CompStat (Computer Statistics) system. CompStat has been assisting New York City since the 1990s in holding the NYPD accountable to the public.

The MEC also announced a Gauteng Crime Management Centre had been established to drive and track the implementation of the Gauteng Aggravated Robbery Strategy.

Monitoring misconduct

Cachalia says the focus on aggravated robberies was informed by findings of a 2007 National Victimisation Survey conducted by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), which found a high level of public anxiety, even though the incidence of crime was decreasing.

The ISS said the rising fear of crime was in the main driven by the high number of aggravated robberies in the province.

Another "critical intervention" introduced in the past financial year was the Investigation and Monitoring of Police and Citizen Complaints System (IMPACC), Cachalia said.

"This system, which allows the department to electronically log and track all complaints received against police officials by members of the public, has enhanced the department's capacity to respond to instances of alleged police misconduct."

In the 2007/8 financial year alone, 487 complaints were received, of which 452 have been finalised.

Cachalia said IMPACC had a vital role to play in rooting out corruption and abuse. "I call upon all honest and dedicated police officials to report and support investigations against members that undermine our police service."

Traffic accidents

Gauteng last year also established a Central Accident Capturing Unit (CACU) to assist traffic law enforcers in identifying hazardous locations quickly.

"This unit will play a pivotal role in assisting agencies throughout Gauteng," Cachalia said. "In addition, the department established a Traffic Statistics Model (TrafStat) to analyse data captured by the unit.

"This model will enable us to identify the causal factors of many accidents, including crucial information such as time frames, vehicle types and user categories," says the MEC.

The better use of technology had also eased the investigation and prosecution of fraud and corruption. Non-compliance with the provisions of the National Road Traffic Act at vehicle testing stations led to several being deregistered. Fifteen vehicle examiners were similarly struck from the roll.

In addition, 72 people were arrested for fraud and corruption. To date, six have already received sentences ranging between an R8 000 fine and 18 months imprisonment. The department also cancelled 2 253 vehicle roadworthy certificates and 141 drivers' licences.