SPEAK OUT

THE POLICE INVESTIGATION
SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE SERVICE

Presentation to: Joint Monitoring Committee on Improvement of Quality of Life and Status of Women
Introduction
Programmes to address violence against women
Preventative
Reactive
Linking the Domestic Violence Act with maintenance issues
Budget for women

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

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

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

Implementation of the DVA (1)
Implemented end 1999: All SAPS members trained prior to implementation
Total members trained 21098 (from 1999 to date)
Extensive and ongoing training in 2001 - new training programme developed on interdepartmental basis, submitted for accreditation
Funding allocated nationally for training (2001/2001 - R100 000 per province)

Implementation of the DVA (2)
Problem solving approach in training, also focus on integration of services
Monitoring and evaluation: Report to Parliament twice a year
Reports from ICD and NGO's informs programme in SAPS eg for ongoing training; and co-operation with other departments and communities
Interdepartmental monitoring programme

Implementation of the DVA (3)
Protocols and guidelines for integrated service delivery:
Social Development - Shelters, victim support
Justice - Protection orders

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

Rape and Sexual Offences (1)
Reactive: Investigation and victim
Complemented by VEP for all functional members
Interdepartmental process to develop strategy to address rape - preventative and reactive. First project underway
Premise that not all rapes are the same - prevention must be informed by offender and victim analysis
Supported by public awareness and communication

Rape and Sexual Offences (2)
Specialised units and specialised individuals at stations (FCS and CPU's)
Specialised training for investigators, eg FCS sexual offences techniques, national instruction on sexual offences
Crime Scene management
Gender sensitivity training
Inclusion of investigation of sexual offences and victim empowerment in basic training and in training for all detectives

Victim Empowerment (1)
Training Programme aimed at basic levels of service delivery, treating victims with respect and dignity, entrench their rights to receive and offer information
1388 members trained so far in 2001 (total numbers of members trained 21000)
Improved facilities at stations

Victim Empowerment (2)
Community based victim support initiatives
Public Awareness and internal communication
Limitation of secondary victimisation
Empowerment of Victim as witness
Allocation 2001/2001: R2 million

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

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

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

Youth Programme (1)
Youth programme aimed at:
Reducing risk factors to offending behaviour
Strengthening resilience factors to victimization and offending
Criminal Justice:
Children Awaiting Trial Child Justice Bill
Allocation SAPS R1 million , Donors R 2.3 million

Youth Programme (2)
Schools Based Programmes:
Partnership with Department of Education : Safer Schools workbook, support for local schools-based programmes
Captain Crime Stop
Adopt- A - Cop
Implementation of Firearm-free zones in schools
Awareness programmes to address risk factors like alcohol and drugs