Prioritise specialised training for investigators of sexual offences to secure harsher convictions
Police must play a prominent role by ensuring they treat victims of crime with respect, ensure statements are correctly taken and not only arrest the perpetrators, but conduct good investigations to secure harsher convictions.
This is a message from the Minister of Police, Nathi Mthethwa to all police officers during the commemoration of the Child Protection Week which commenced yesterday until Sunday, 3 June 2012. He said key in achieving this would be training; ensure that police stations are friendly to victims, including the provision of dedicated victim support rooms at police stations as well as determination to work hard and smart.
“We are calling upon all the men and women in blue in our country to go beyond their normal call of duty, in protecting our children. This undertaking must not be adhered to for the duration of this week, but must become daily occurrences. By so doing, we will be giving credence to one of the strategic priorities of the SAPS, under the Crime Prevention programme, which is to reduce the levels of crime against women, the elderly and children.
The Minister further reiterated that the SAPS collaborates with various interdepartmental structures including Social Development, Health and Education to deal with rape and sexual offences and victim services to the Thuthuzela Care Centres, particularly children. To ensure that police officers are constantly trained, the SAPS have a victim empowerment learning programme included in their annual funded in-service training programme. Specific victim support content is also included in the in-service training learning programme for domestic violence and sexual offences.
“We are also prioritising specialised training for investigators of sexual offences to ensure that we move beyond arrest but secure harsher convictions. A total of 17314 out of 21 100 detectives are trained in detective related courses. A further 2161 detectives will be trained on the basic detective course during the 2012/2013 financial year. We cannot begin to over-emphasise the accuracy of statement-taking because such a process has an impact on an outcome and conclusion of any case. This must also incorporate keeping the victim informed of progress and the processes involved,” stated the Minister.
The Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Units (FCS) have been reintroduced in all 176 SAPS clusters in all 9 provinces. There is currently 2155 detectives placed at these units and they are issued with 1276 vehicles. Previously, the FCS Units consisted of only 1864 detectives.
An additional amount of R49.5 million was provided to all provinces to capacitate the FCS units with resources. To date, the FCS units have achieved over 363 life sentences, with a conviction rate of 73% for crimes against women above 18 years old and 70, 04% for crimes against children under 18 years old.
“A total of 479 trained detectives that had been transferred to other components and divisions within SAPS in the past have been placed back in the detective services environment. Six courses for training of Detective Commanders in which 346 commanders were trained, was presented during the 2011/2012 financial year,” he added.
Minister Mthethwa further highlighted that during this commemorative week and beyond, SAPS in collaboration with the Department of Basic Education, will continue to implement various preventative programmes in support of safer schools. The aim of school-based crime prevention programmes is geared at making schools a safe and secure environment free from violence and crime, conducive for learning.
“In regard to sexual offences, prevention programmes in schools are also a focus of the interdepartmental team dealing with rape and sexual offences. Learners are encouraged to report any form of abuse to the SAPS. The focus however is to build resistance and resilience amongst learners to crime and violence and also from victimisation and offending behaviour,” concluded the Minister.
Enquiries:
Zweli Mnisi
Cell: 082 045 4024
Arrest and convict child rapists and molesters – urges Minister Mthethwa
