'Cops must work harder'
2007-08-14 13:46
Johannesburg - Even though arrests for violent organised crimes have increased in Gauteng in the first six months of this year police must still work "harder and smarter", Community Safety MEC Firoz Cachalia said on Tuesday.
At a press briefing held to report back on Gauteng's anti-crime campaign over the period January to June 2007, Cachalia said increases in policing had been fruitful, but police must work harder and smarter.
He was referring to Operation Trio, launched earlier this year, which highlighted key violent organised crimes such as residential robberies, business robberies and vehicle hijackings.
"For the first time we are seeing results with respect to those specific crimes," he said.
Increased visibility and activity by the police during Operation Trio resulted in arrests for residential robberies increasing by 43.8%, for vehicle hijackings by 98.4% and business robberies by 243%.
The operation data was compiled from arrests made in the first six months of 2007 compared to the first six of 2006.
- SAPA