The South African Police Service brought out 2007/08 crime figures this week [see article]. Overall they showed that most categories of crime continued to be slightly down year on year. The general post-2003/4 decline in crime levels therefore continued. While certain kinds of crime such as house robberies and hijackings increased the police appear satisfied that their targets of a 7%-10% annual reduction in certain crime types are being met. Is this good enough?

International comparisons on crime are a fraught exercise. Legal definitions and reporting behaviour differ considerably from country to country, making comparisons difficult. But doing an international comparison of murder figures - a crime that is most likely to be reported - reveals shocking results for South Africa which questions of legal definition cannot explain away.

Statistics from the South Africa Survey, published by the Institute, reveal that approximately 50 out of every 100 000 South Africans are murdered every year. In the United States with its reputation for gun violence and inner city crime the figure is 4 per 100 000. In Australia and the United Kingdom the figure is 1 per 100 000. South Africans are therefore 50 times more likely to be murdered than Australians.

Are the police's crime reduction targets of 7%-10% per annum therefore satisfactory?

The answer would depend on whether they were functioning effectively and it appears that they are not. There are simply too many reports of corruption and poor service. The conviction rates of all crime categories are extremely low. The general dress and appearance of South Africa's policeman leaves a lot to be desired - which says a great deal about their morale, discipline, and management. While there are a number of dedicated officers, it is doubtful whether they are well enough managed and resourced to be effective. Many South Africans might concur that their police could best be described as a disorganized rabble and at worst as corrupt and lazy.

We should therefore expect a lot more from the police and this should include more ambitious crime reduction targets. This week we offer ten points that could help restore some of the dignity and efficacy to the South African Police Service and aid them in becoming a more effective outfit.

1. A serious reassessment of management in the South African police. This should include a reworking of command structures to have less chiefs and more indians - and no politicians. 
2. A concerted campaign to re-establish military discipline in the police. A good place to start would be the enforcement of some sort of dress code.
3. Renewing the contracts of station commanders based exclusively on their success in reaching targets for crime reduction (subject to point #6).
4. Recruiting top graduates into the police via an ‘officer track' programme. Specifically top legal, accounting, and science graduates into an exclusive organized crime force.
5. The establishment of an independent corruption busting force - outside to the Independent Complaints Directorate - dedicated to hunting, investigating, and prosecuting corrupt elements in the police.
6. An annual independent audit of crime figures by a professional auditing firm.
7. Further investment in investigative and forensic resources and skills to ensure a better turnaround time in getting evidence to court and a higher success rate in linking offenders to crimes.
8. Scrapping of the costly and inefficient firearms relicensing process, which targets only licensed gun owners, and devoting those funds and personnel to an ongoing illegal firearms buy-back campaign run in conjunction with the United Nations. This might be accompanied by strict concealed carry laws. Surely with hijackings and house robberies going up it is time to accept that five years of the relicensing programme has not had the desired effect.
9. A campaign to prosecute minor alcohol related offences and dedication to the principles of the Domestic Violence Act - two actions which will bring down the levels of contact crimes within families and between people who know each other. 
10. Acceptance that ‘social problems' are the business of 21^st century policing and not an excuse as to why crime levels go up.

Frans Cronje is Deputy CEO of the South African Institute of Race Relations. This article first appeared in the Institute's weekly online newsletter SAIRR Today July 4 2008