Mthethwa details crime-plan

2009-06-04 18:00

Cape Town - The police will deploy more detectives, encourage community policing and ask the army to combat cash-in-transit theft as it tries to reduce crime by 10% annually, Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa said on Thursday.

There were currently some 12 900 policemen undergoing training as detectives, of whom 1 200 "are sitting advance courses", Mthethwa told Parliament in the debate on President Jacob Zuma's State of the Nation address.
He also insisted that his ministry would push ahead with plans to establish more so-called street committees to help police protect communities.

"No police force can be everywhere every time. Crime should be on the agenda of every home as part of efforts to return to peace, security and comfort.

"There should be a partnership between the public and the police."

Youth in crime-fighting efforts

Mthethwa shrugged off criticism of his plans to enlist the youth in crime-fighting efforts, saying the "young lions have the capacity to strike a blow" against crime.

The minister said those who have criticised a plan to recruit unemployed youths to join community policing forums, were wealthy enough to hire private security companies, putting them out of touch with the reality of crime in many areas.

"Their high security walls have blinded them," he said.

Mthethwa warned that crime levels that were still well above government targets could undo the gains of the anti-apartheid struggle.

On Wednesday, Zuma devoted only a few sentences to policing, but promised that the government would train more detectives and stick to its target of reducing crime by seven to 10% a year.

He said it would also pay special attention to fighting organised crime.

Mthethwa said the Directorate of Priority Crime Investigations (DPCI), the new elite unit established to replace the Scorpions, would be "fully operational" on July 5.

- SAPA