Union: 'Recruit more cops'
04/07/2007 19:39  - (SA)  

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Johannesburg - The Federation of Unions of South Africa (Fedusa) has called for the recruitment of more police after the release of the national crime statistics.

Fedusa general secretary Dennis George said on Wednesday: "When one looks at our country's unemployment rate, it seems strange the police are not doing more to recruit young officers and retain experienced crime fighters."

He said a worrying factor was the number of police slain in the course of duty, especially when viewed against the backdrop of the poor pay and conditions of service.

"Crime is certainly one of South Africa's biggest challenges, and it is compounded by poverty and unemployment."

The union said it had noted a claimed decrease in cases of indecent assault and rape.

'Levels of serious crime had increased'

He said the fact that fewer incidents of rape and indecent assault had been picked up by the police, did not mean that fewer women and children were affected by these serious violations.

He said that, despite the government's goal of lowering crime by 7% to 10% a year, it was obvious the levels of serious crime had increased.

"We are concerned about the increase in murders, violent house robberies, hijackings, cash-in-transit and bank heists," he said.

- SAPA

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