Why are police refusing to open cases in Gauteng?

MEC challenged on police refusal to accept crime reports

There have been two instances in the past 2 weeks where police officers have refused to open cases when violent crime has been reported to them. One case may be a mistake but two cases raise the suspicion that there is a policy directive at work.

Today's The Star newspaper reports on a mugging in Melville where police refused to allow a case to be opened because the victim could not describe her attackers properly.

Recently the daughter of my domestic assistant was robbed of her handbag in similar fashion in Florida . Shelley was on her way home from work when she was confronted by two tsotsies. One of her assailants stabbed her on the top of her left arm. They then grabbed her handbag and ran off.. After having her wound stitched at the Helen Joseph Hospital , Shelley went to the Florida Police Station to report the crime. She was told that she could not register the crime as she did not know her attackers. The next day, I had my daughter accompany her to the Police Station and they were told to come back later that afternoon as the client service center was too busy.

That evening, I accompanied Shelley to the Police Station. She was asked what her complaint was and when she told the two student constables about her experience, in my presence she was told that they cannot register the case as she was unable to give a positive description of her attackers. I intervened and asked the constable if Shelley's experience was a criminal offence. The reply was yes. I then insisted that a criminal case be registered, which was subsequently done.

One has to ask why police are unwilling to open cases. Perhaps they have been told not to, as it will affect the crime statistics. In which case policing has become about manipulating public perceptions rather than about keeping our people safe.

I challenge Safety MEC Firoz Cachalia to investigate the cases concerned and to reveal whether police have been told to ignore certain crimes.

Statement issued by John Moodey MPL, Democratic Alliance Gauteng provincial spokesperson on safety and security, March 2 2009

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responses to this article

The answer my friend, is blowing in the wind There is something called crime statistics! Its election time too by Doctor Spin on March 03 2009, 09:17 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

crime This is why sector policing is so very important. Yes we have experienced incidents in our area where police have persuaded houseowners not to open a case where nothing was stolen and nobody was injured. BUT statistics are notoriously incorrect because . .more people simply don't bother to report many security incidents including attempted robberies etc. All incidents reported to the 10111 number are given a reference number and incorporated into police stats. I have attended sector meetings where station commanders think everything is under control because 30-40% of crime is not reported! Be proactive, find out who your sector manager is and you have your own private cop in the area. Ours has a cell phone on 24 hrs a day for our use, he has a dedicated email address and he sends us regular feedback on crime in our area. Should any serious incident occur then we get informed ..usually within hours. Sector policing work is focused on crime prevention which include the management of reservists. Admittedly some police stations are disfunctional but you might be in an area where there are committed and competent sector managers out there waiting to be contacted ... Under the circumstances we need all the help we can get. . .less by wendy on March 03 2009, 14:24 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Bought off As with most ANC-dominated institutions, graft and corruption is commonplace. It's easy to buy these "policemen" off. by Reitz on March 04 2009, 08:38 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Yes. There is a directive.... Some cops are also involved in violent crimes themselves. And just before typing this little entry, I'd just read a few (not one, but quite a few) articles in which "white" people have been specifically targeted, and sometimes even hunted down just . .more because they're white. This is disturbing, because now I'm wondering who's telling these cops to do these things. What is the ANC really up to? And if anyone is about to scream something stupid like "PROPAGANDA!!!" or "PAYBACK!!!", read this article as an example: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/268324 Wake up people!!!!! . .less by JJ on March 17 2009, 15:39 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

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