Police now refusing to open cases

Here's another..shall we say, innovative method by the ANC regime to keep a lid on crime stats: don't open cases!

First, refuse to release stats on a station by station basis, then shut the stats out on a national level releasing them well after the fact and after much massaging of the figures. Then refuse opposition MPs access to those stats and police stations for verification.

Added to that is a trend where people simply have stopped bothering to report crimes (I know I did) - all of which makes the figures look better. And as if that wasn't enough, it appears now the directive is to simply not open cases. Unbelievable! And people are still going to vote these baboons back into power. I despair.

MEC challenged on police refusal to accept crime reports

There have been two instances in the past 2 weeks where police officers have refused to open cases when violent crime has been reported to them. One case may be a mistake but two cases raise the suspicion that there is a policy directive at work.

Today's The Star newspaper reports on a mugging in Melville where police refused to allow a case to be opened because the victim could not describe her attackers properly.

Recently the daughter of my domestic assistant was robbed of her handbag in similar fashion in Florida . Shelley was on her way home from work when she was confronted by two tsotsies. One of her assailants stabbed her on the top of her left arm. They then grabbed her handbag and ran off. After having her wound stitched at the Helen Joseph Hospital , Shelley went to the Florida Police Station to report the crime. She was told that she could not register the crime as she did not know her attackers. (wtf?!!!!!)

The next day, I had my daughter accompany her to the Police Station and they were told to come back later that afternoon as the client service center was too busy.

That evening, I accompanied Shelley to the Police Station. She was asked what her complaint was and when she told the two student constables about her experience, in my presence she was told that they cannot register the case as she was unable to give a positive description of her attackers. (Again, wtf?!!!!!)

I intervened and asked the constable if Shelley's experience was a criminal offence. The reply was yes. I then insisted that a criminal case be registered, which was subsequently done.

One has to ask why police are unwilling to open cases. Perhaps they have been told not to, as it will affect the crime statistics. In which case policing has become about manipulating public perceptions rather than about keeping our people safe.

I challenge Safety MEC Firoz Cachalia to investigate the cases concerned and to reveal whether police have been told to ignore certain crimes.

Statement issued by John Moodey MPL, Democratic Alliance Gauteng provincial spokesperson on safety and security.