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On Saturday, 5 July station commissioner Snr Supt Phumzile Cetyana invited the media and representatives from security companies, law enforcement, the traffic department, marine and coastal management, the community policing forum (CPF) and neighbourhood watches to a special joint operation crime prevention meeting at the Hermanus SAPS conference room. Following the release of the province'?s crime statistics last Thursday, the national commissioner decided to lift the ban on the release of individual stations' crime statistics for one weekend.

Cetyana gave roleplayers the opportunity to view the Hermanus precinct's comparative crime statistics for the 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 financial years and answered related questions.

The period in review at the meeting was from 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008.

The analysis of serious crimes in Hermanus revealed that most murders were committed in Zwelihle (17); two in Hawston; two in the CBD; one in the Hemel-en-Aarde valley and one in Sandbaai. Liquor and domestic violence were contributing factors in about 11 of these murders. Cetyana was proud to report that of the 23 murder cases for this period, 20 were solved meaning suspects were arrested and appeared in court.

At the meeting it was also mentioned that the police's aggressive response managed to subdue the taxi violence last year and that many of the murders during the 2006/7 period were linked to taxi violence.

The majority of armed robberies and robberies with other weapons took place in Zwelihle and Hawston -15 suspects (mostly black and coloured) were arrested and appeared in court. The analysis also shows that most rapes and attempted rapes took place in Zwelihle (16), Mt Pleasant (6) and Hawston (6).

Most victims, the majority being black and coloured, were approximately 16 and younger. In 19 of these reported cases the victims knew their attackers.

Motor vehicle theft seems to be a problem in most areas in Hermanus - Zwelihle (5), Sandbaai (5), CBD (6), Onrus (3), Voëlklip (4) and the industrial area (1); 18 vehicles were stolen while parked in front of houses while seven were stolen out of parking lots.

No hijackings

On a positive note Cetyana mentioned that, compared to the rest of the country, no hijackings had taken place in Hermanus during this period and that police managed to arrest six of the suspects involved in the one cash-in-transit heist that took place in December last year within 45 minutes. The seventh suspect handed himself over to the police.

They were also able to retrieve weapons and return all of the stolen money.

Cetyana said their efforts in the coming financial year will be focussed on reducing the numbers of murders, attempted rapes and rapes - the areas where the station did not meet its targets - as well as curbing the increase in robberies at businesses. Cetyana commented that most big robberies, such as the recent robbery at York Cash & Carry, are planned and carried out by people from outside Hermanus with links to locals within the community.

“The perception in town is that crime is out of control, however the roleplayers involved know what we are achieving. Crime will never stop as long as we have social problems such as povertry and unemployment.

To build houses or to ensure that people have good living conditions is not the job of the police,” said Cetyana. He attributed the precinct's “good performance” to the collaboration between the police and “external people” such as the security companies, law enforcement, traffic officials, the CPF and neighbourhood watches and added that he looks forward to even greater success in the future. Prof Derrick Dickens of the CPF commended the police on their performance saying that local police “do not get enough credit”.

The Hermanus police station has been named one of the top ten stations in the province and each member will be receiving an incentive reward for their contribution in the fight against crime.

Statistics for 2006/7 and 2007/8

- Murder increased from 22 to 23.

- Attempted murder increased from 12 to 17 (but declined from 61 attempts in 2002/3).

- 28 cases of rape and indecent assault were reported in both years. (Due to a changed definition of sexually motivated crime on 16 December 2007 figures only reflect the period April to December 2007.) Indecent assault has increased continuously from four cases in 2001/2.

- Assault with the intent to inflict grievous bodily harm decreased from 222 to 169.

- Robbery with aggravating circumstances have increased from 29 to 30, but have decreased from 40 in 2003/4.

- Robbery at business premises have shown a drastic increase from no cases reported to four.

- Burglaries at residential premises show a decline from 365 to 315 and a drastic decline from 1 094 in 2001/2 and 1 000 in 2003/4.

- Burglary at business premises have decreased from 117 to 58.

- Theft of motor vehicles and motorcycles increased from 21 to 27. In 2003/4 70 cases were reported.

- Theft out of motor vehicle have decreased from 213 to 90.

- Arrests for the illegal possession of firearms and ammunition have increased from 7 to 19.

- Drug-related arrests increased from 254 to 279.

- People arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs have decreased from 113 to 108.

- Shoplifting have decreased from 96 to 95 but shows a consistent increase from 2001/2.

- One more kidnapping took place in comparison to the one in 2006/7.

The areas where the Hermanus SAPS did not reach their targets include murder, rape and attempted rape, attempted murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, arson, motor vehicle theft, driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

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