Locals negative, but crime down

2005-09-14 15:35

Pretoria - Crime levels in South Africa were decreasing, but negative perceptions on crime had doubled since 1994, a conference on prison overcrowding heard on Wednesday.

"Crime in general has come down between 1994 and 2004. The public perception is contrary to that," said Anton du Plessis, head of the crime and justice programme at the Institute for Security Studies.

He was speaking in Pretoria at a conference on overcrowding in prisons convened by the correctional service and justice departments.

Levels of reporting on serious crime had increased over the same period, Du Plessis said.

The fear of crime was not necessarily driven by experiences of crime but could more likely be linked to poor service delivery, resulting in beggars on sides of roads for instance.

Further research needed

Du Plessis said the subject required further research.

Challenges which were faced by the country regarding prison overcrowding included responding to crime without infringing on human rights and maintaining a balance between law enforcement and preventative measures, Du Plessis said.

Sibusisu Masuku, director of policy co-ordination on prisons in the presidency, presented a number of social factors contributing to prison overcrowding.

He said poor neighbourhoods, inadequate education and skills, rapid urbanisation and unstable family life were factors leading people to crime and contributing to overcrowding.

"Interventions in the social factors need to be long term. Policy makers are aware of this, but progress is slow," Masuku said.

Non-custodial sentences

Earlier the conference heard that overcrowding in prisons could be reduced by non-custodial sentences.

"Non-custodial sentences should be considered in some cases as convicts tend to pick up more criminal habits in prisons and are likely to return if released," said African Union special rapporteur on prisons, Prof Vincent Dankwa.

He said the training of prosecutors, judges and magistrates should include enabling them to assist when a non-custodial sentence is appropriate.

"NGOs (non-governmental organisations) such as faith-based organisations have reported having a positive influence on convicts, leading them away from a life of crime and thus being less likely to return to prison," Dankwa said.

He said similar interventions by other NGOs and business should be considered to enable prisoners to turn from crime and establish a place for themselves in society once released.

- SAPA