CRIME STATISTICS: SA STILL UNSAFE AND VIOLENT

"The Freedom Front Plus welcomes the decrease in certain crimes, especially murder. Although the murder figure decreased by 8,6%, robberies at residential homes have for the fourth consecutive year increased. The increase of  2,7% from last resulted in the increase in robberies at residential homes for the past four years now stand at 56,9%. It is extremely worrying as people are supposed to be safe in their own homes, but these statistics prove that they have reason to feel unsafe. If it is taken into account that in the past seven years more than 5,56 million people in South Africa had been victims of violent crimes, South Africa is still an unsafe and violent country," Mr. Pieter Groenewald (MP), chief spokesperson on the Police for the Freedom Front Plus says.

"The decrease in crime can be attributed to the preparations of the security forces for the Soccer World Tournament. It proves that more visible policing brings down crime rates and the Police should continue with this. The Freedom Front Plus is disappointed that the Minister of Police did not keep to his undertaking which he gave last year that farm murders would be recorded as a separate statistic. It is quite clear that he is shying away from farm murders," Mr. Groenewald said.

Statement issued by Pieter Groenewald, FF Plus spokesperson on police, September 9 2010

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