NCJ Number
138110
Date Published
1992
Length
123 pages
Annotation
This annual report for the year ending December 31, 1991, describes the crime situation in the Republic of South Africa, discusses manifestations of unrest and violence, outlines efforts to restructure the South African police, and summarizes the tasks of police divisions organized to provide human resources management, support services, and visible policing as well as to combat and investigate crime.
Abstract
In general, crime in South Africa has reached alarming proportions despite successful efforts on the part of the police to curb the increase in certain serious offenses. The crime increase results primarily from socioeconomic factors, particularly large-scale unemployment, but riots, political violence, the decline of society, and a worldwide tendency toward crime also play a significant role. Almost the same number of unrest-related incidents occurred during 1985 (17,076) and 1990 (17,088); less than half the number of incidents in 1985 occurred in 1991 (8,815). However, more than three times as many people were killed in 1991 (2,239) than in 1985 (823); more than twice as many people were killed in 1991 (2,239) than in 1985. The South African police initiated a strategic plan at the beginning of 1991 to restructure the force and to combat crime. Steps taken thus far include increasing the number of police personnel, implementing a crime prevention program, and conducting an investigation to identify the role of all factors contributing to crime.