POPCRU statement on the 2017/18 crime statistics
11 September 2018
The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) notes the announced 2017/18 period crime statistics as tabled by the South African Police Service (SAPS) management in parliament this morning.
We have noted the that over the mentioned period, about 2 096 781 counts of serious crimes were committed, and that out of these 1 662 815 were community-reported, while only 433 966 were due to police action, therefore demonstrating the shortfall within which police are purported as to being the first line of defence in keeping our communities safe.
Most worrying has been the increase in the murder rate which increased by 6,9%, signalling in the main the number of firearms roaming our streets at any given time, to an extent where it is estimated that 57 people are killed on a daily basis in our country.
This is not by coincidence, but by design.