SPEAK OUT

FORENSICS
SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE SERVICE

Presentation to:
Joint Monitoring Committee on Improvement of Quality of Life and Status of Women, 16 October, 2001
Introduction

z Programmes to address violence against women
y Preventative
y Reactive
z Linking the Domestic Violence Act with maintenance issues

z Budget for women

Violence against women
z Cycle of disempowerment that includes poverty, discrimination, violence and abuse
z Role of women in shaping society - women's issues are society's issues
z Massive impact of seeing women as victims - creates its own cycle of disempowerment
z Through internal programmes and external services the SAPS can help to break this cycle of disempowerment

Key commitments of SAPS

z Implementation of the Domestic Violence Act
z Victim empowerment, service and facilities
z Training in gender sensitivity and protocols to deal with sexual violence
z The transformation of the SAPS through gender policies
z Intersectoral programmes in support of crime prevention interventions
z Specialised capacity in Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences units to investigate crimes against women and children.

Domestic Violence

z Implementation of the Domestic Violence Act (DVA) dependent on the SAPS
z Take domestic abuse out of the privacy that protects the offender
z Minister has challenged all SAPS members to become role models
z Part of interdepartmental Domestic Violence programme

Implementation of the DVA (1)

z Implemented end 1999: All SAPS members trained prior to implementation
z Total members trained 21098 (from 1999 to date)
z Extensive and ongoing training in 2001 - new training programme developed on interdepartmental basis, submitted for accreditation
z Funding allocated nationally for training (2001/2001 - R100 000 per province)

Implementation of the DVA (2)

z Problem solving approach in training, also focus on integration of services
z Monitoring and evaluation: Report to Parliament twice a year
z Reports from ICD and NGO's informs programme in SAPS eg for ongoing training; and co-operation with other departments and communities
z Interdepartmental monitoring programme

Implementation of the DVA (3)

z Protocols and guidelines for integrated service delivery:
y Social Development - Shelters, victim support
y Justice - Protection orders

z Co-operation with communities and private sector - victims support, safe houses, awareness
z Internal communication in SAPS and other departments
z Public awareness

Rape and Sexual Offences (1)

z Reactive: Investigation and victim
z Complemented by VEP for all functional members
z Interdepartmental process to develop strategy to address rape - preventative and reactive. First project underway
z Premise that not all rapes are the same - prevention must be informed by offender and victim analysis
z Supported by public awareness and communication

Rape and Sexual Offences (2)

y Specialised units and specialised individuals at stations (FCS and CPU's)
y Specialised training for investigators, eg FCS sexual offences techniques, national instruction on sexual offences
y Crime Scene management
y Gender sensitivity training
y Inclusion of investigation of sexual offences and victim empowerment in basic training and in training for all detectives

Victim Empowerment (1)

z Training Programme aimed at basic levels of service delivery, treating victims with respect and dignity, entrench their rights to receive and offer information
z 1388 members trained so far in 2001 (total numbers of members trained 21000)
z Improved facilities at stations

Victim Empowerment (2)

z Community based victim support initiatives
z Public Awareness and internal communication
z Limitation of secondary victimisation
z Empowerment of Victim as witness
z Allocation 2001/2001: R2 million

Prevention of firearm related violence

z Firearms Control Act can play a role in reducing violence against women
z We need women to support this Act
z Gun violence threatens and oppresses women, children and young men
z Implementation of Firearm-free zones to create safe public spaces
z Lethal combination of alcohol and firearms: Can FFZ's assist
z Mobilise women to support and maintain

Poverty and crime

z President's speech 1999 - connection between poverty and crime
z Poverty Hearings of 1998 we learned that over 50% of women in South Africa today are oppressed by poverty
z Presidential priorities include poverty alleviation, job creation, human resource development, rural development, urban renewal, crime prevention, combating HIV/Aids
z These programmes can contribute to break the cycles of violence contribute to disempowerment of women

Priority station areas for Violence against women and children

z NCCF direction: Identified 20 police station - highest levels of crime against women and children
z Developing proactive local programmes aimed at reducing the levels of violent crime against women and children - programmes in 3 provinces approved
z Reduction programmes to protect women and children from violence - aimed at factors that contribute to violence like alcohol and firearms
z Local level community mobilisation and awareness

Youth Programme (1)

z Youth programme aimed at:

y Reducing risk factors to offending behaviour

y Strengthening resilience factors to victimization and offending

z Criminal Justice:
y Children Awaiting Trial
y Child Justice Bill
z Allocation SAPS R1 million , Donors R 2.3 million

Youth Programme (2)

z Schools Based Programmes:
y Partnership with Department of Education : Safer Schools workbook, support for local schools-based programmes
y Captain Crime Stop
Adopt- A - Cop
y Implementation of Firearm-free zones in schools
y Awareness programmes to address risk factors like alcohol and drugs