-Accuracy of stats questioned
Questions are being raised about the accuracy of the latest annual crime statistics released by the SA Police Service (SAPS)‚ with the SA Banking Risk Information Centre (Sabric) revealing that its database contains almost 150 more heists than what has been reported.
SAPS management announced in parliament on Tuesday that 238 heists occurred between April 1 2017 and March 31 2018.
For the same period Sabric recorded 385 heists.
It’s not only the discrepancies in heists which are being questioned‚ but also the SAPS crime detection figures‚ crimes the public reports‚ murders and attempted murders‚ which‚ says Unisa criminologist Rudolph Zinn, must be probed.
Sabric CEO Kalyani Pillay said for the same period‚ Sabric’s database showed there were 385 heists.
She said its figures included all the different modus operandi involved in committing heists.
“Our figures‚ for the same period are not the same as those the police have reported. They are more.”
Pillay said she didn’t know if the SAPS were only recording the attacks on vehicles or if they were also recording cross-pavement attacks.
“What we can say‚ and which compares with the SAPS data‚ is that for the period April 1 2018 to August 1 2018‚ there has been a decrease in cash heists.”
Zinn said while an analysis of the statistics shows crime has decreased overall compared with the previous financial year‚ one needed to take into account whether the reported crimes were an accurate reflection.
“Stats SA shows that when it comes to the reporting of crime there is a huge under reporting‚ with a 51% under reporting in crimes like burglary.
“If Stats SA shows 51% under reporting when it comes to burglary it gives you a very different picture of the number of crimes actually occurring.”
He said the under reporting of crime was supported if one looked at the 11% decrease in the number of crimes reported by the public to the police in the 2008-2009 financial year compared to the number of crimes the public reported in the 20172018 financial year.
“It’s clear less crime is being reported to the police,” Zinn said.
He said there was also something peculiar about the murder and attempted murder increases.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Vish Naidoo said their data was accurate. —
Our figures are not the same as those the police have. They are more