Johannesburg – The deployment of the new 10 thousand newly trained police Constables has led to a decrease in crime during the festive season, the Police Ministry has noted.
The Constables have been deployed to various police stations, SA Police Service (SAPS) units, service points, and centres of activities to bolster capacity and enhance police visibility.
The Police Ministry said it remains motivated by the unique provincial SAPS operational plans, “which have largely resulted in an improved crime [prevention] picture in the country during the holiday period, which is still underway, with provinces reporting little to no major crime incidents”.
The ministry said the improvements noted, are a result of multiple factors including shifting resources and personnel informed by crime patterns and “the bolstering of the SAPS capacity to better respond to crime, through the inclusion of 10 thousand newly trained Constables to the police service”.
In a statement Wednesday, Police Ministry Spokesperson Lirandzu Themba said: “The Police Ministry has successfully wrapped up the annual countrywide Festive Season Inspection Roadshow conducted by Minister of Police General Bheki Cele and Deputy Minister of Police, Cassel Mathale together with the management of SAPS”.
The Roadshow included the inspection of multi-disciplinary police operations aimed at detecting and preventing crime.
“Discussions with communities also took place as the Ministry and SAPS management visited public spaces such as shopping malls, taxi ranks, beaches, parks, and other public gathering areas and centres of activities,” said Themba.
Commenting on the improved crime-fighting effort, Police Minister General Bheki Cele said: “While police officers across the country sharpened their approach to crime this holiday season, to ensure the safety of all living within our borders.
“We appreciate that the public has largely been on their best behaviour during the period associated with celebrations and festivities and have remained responsible and vigilant.
“This has assisted police to concentrate their efforts on combating and preventing crime rather than policing people’s behaviour.”
As the year comes to a close, the Police Ministry said it wishes South Africans a safe transition to the New Year and continues to encourage collaborative work between the police and communities toward fighting and rooting out crime.
