DA to propose crime statistics overhaul

Note to editors: The following statement was distributed at a press conference hosted in Parliament today by DA Shadow Minister of Police, Dianne Kohler Barnard MP.

In order to ensure reliable analysis of the crime situation in our country, it is essential to have accurate and verified statistics on the nature, level and geographic spread of criminal activity. Without in-depth, independently audited statistics, devising and implementing effective strategies to fight crime is impossible.

The current method of collecting, collating and reporting South Africa's crime statistics means that few people trust the figures reported by the Minister each year. Additionally, the statistics are out of date by the time they are released, which in turn seriously reduces their usefulness.

For our police service to fight crime effectively, and to allow for government to be held accountable for its performance in crime prevention, South Africa needs a new method of collecting, collating and reporting on statistics. 

The time has come for an independent body to take responsibility for our crime statistics. That is the only way to restore the public's trust in the figures.

Initially, I will be calling on Parliament to establish a multi-party Ad Hoc Committee on Crime Statistics to determine the validity of how these crime statistics are collated and reported. This would allow Parliament the opportunity to decide whether the current process is working or if alternatives need to be explored.

The problems with our crime statistics are manifold:

• It is not clear if they are valid as they do not provide an accurate picture of the crime situation;
• they are not reliable;
• they are open to manipulation; and
• the statistics are out of date.

1. Validity

Crimes increasingly go unreported due to decreasing public trust in our criminal justice system. This is evident from the fact that many crimes go unreported. For example, it is a well-stated fact that only one in nine women report rape. The problem is particularly acute in certain categories of crime such as rape, domestic violence, and "petty" crimes such as pickpocketing and shoplifting.

Under-reporting means that crime could actually be worsening even though the statistics announced last week indicate that there is a marginal decrease in certain categories. This calls the validity of our statistics into question as the numbers do not necessarily reflect the reality on the ground.

2. Reliability

The lack of an effective case management system - with some cases still logged manually - means that cases are easily lost. This also makes it difficult to follow progress on a case from the opening of the docket, through to detection, court appearance, conviction, and incarceration. This is a particularly important aspect for the victim so that he or she knows exactly what is happening with the case. It will also help to prevent the case getting lost in the system.

3. Open to manipulation

At the release of the annual crime statistics last week, National Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega admitted that there was no independent audit of the statistics. Relying on a government Minister for crime statistics is problematic because politicians have an obvious political interest in painting a rosy picture of our crime situation.

It is also problematic that certain categories of crime such as domestic violence, gang-related violence and violent public protests are absorbed into larger categories. Whether it is intentional or not, the effect is to hide the real situation as it pertains to these crime categories. We are unable to determine whether there is an increase in these categories or not because they are not reported separately.

4. The statistics are obsolete

By the time the annual crime statistics are released, they are 18 months old. This means that the police, community policing fora and other law enforcement agencies cannot determine the real crime situation at any given time. The lack of real-time crime statistics available to the public at station level means that information on the nature and extent of crime in their particular area is unavailable.

In previous years, national crime statistics were released on a quarterly basis. The decision to release them annually was a political move to avoid being criticised for increasing crime levels.

The Democratic Alliance Proposal

The DA is proposing that an independent body be created that is responsible for the collation and reporting of our crime statistics. 

This body - which could possibly be a unit within the Civilian Secretariat for Police - will have a specific mandate to collect reliable real-time data which takes under-reporting into account to give us a full and honest picture of the crime situation in South Africa. This will include how many arrests are made, how many prosecutions are carried out and how many convictions are secured.

This unit must be funded autonomously to ensure that it remains independent.

We believe that real-time crime statistics should be publicly available at each and every SAPS station 24/7 so that tailored and localised responses can be formulated. They will also be used in the prevention of those crimes. Comprehensive quarterly reports should also be presented to Parliament and the public.

In order for this to happen, a computerised integrated criminal justice information system (ICJIS) must be introduced and managed by the independent crime statistics unit. This technology is widely used around the world and allows for a crime to be tracked and updated from the moment it is reported right up until a prisoner is released. Without a comprehensive, integrated system, a reliable understanding of the reality of the crime situation in South Africa cannot be achieved.

An integrated system would also allow the public to determine whether reported crimes are being investigated, and whether arrests are being made and convictions secured.

In addition, the statistics reporting system must be modified to include specific categories of crime such as domestic violence, gang-related violence, farm attacks, cybercrime and public violence. 

I will table a motion in the National Assembly for the establishment of a multi-party Ad Hoc Committee on Crime Statistics comprising members of the Police and Justice Portfolio Committees. This committee would be responsible for determining the validity and reliability of the current method of reporting on crime statistics and establish whether alternative methods need to be explored.

South Africa has one of the highest crime rates in the world and the only way that it can be brought down is if we have accurate and reliable statistics on the nature, level and geographic spread of criminal activity. This is essential so that the SAPS may tailor crime prevention, management and response accordingly.

Statement issued by Dianne Kohler Barnard MP, DA Shadow Minister of Police, September 25 2012

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