|
Advanced search
Previous page
|
Title
Urban Violence, Crime and the Perceptions on Police-Citizen Relations in Mitchell's Plain, South Africa. |
Full text
http://scripties.let.eldoc.ub.rug.nl/root/Master/DoorstroomMasters/HumanitarianAction/2012/l.visser/ |
Date
2012 |
Author(s)
Visser, Laurie |
Abstract
This research explores the police-citizen relations in Mitchell‟s Plain, one of the largest townships of Cape Town and South Africa. Drawing on fieldwork conducted in this community, I will explain the perceptions of both community members and police officers of the South African Police Service (SAPS). South Africa in general and Mitchell‟s Plain in specific, is a place that suffers from a great amount of violence and crime. A lot of the crimes are related to drugs and the strong presence of gangs, who are controlling large parts of Mitchell‟s Plain. Recently, the SAPS remilitarized their forces in an effort to deal with the rising crime and violence. This is in stark contrast with the initial police reforms after apartheid and not in line with the concept of community policing, that was introduced to strengthen the relationship between the police and the community. Police citizens relations are further affected by corruption, the SAPS‟ inability to deal with high levels of crime and the strong power the gangs have in the community. Furthermore, the negative perceptions on the police are influenced by incompetency of the court and prisons. Many people see remilitarization of the police and the use of force as a solution to deal with the crime problem in South Africa. However, a deeper look into the problems of a specific community and to what influences their relationship with the police shows this will not solve the problems. Police reforms as part of Security Sector Reforms (SSR) need to be accompanied by changes in the justice system for them to be successful. Corruption, especially in the higher ranks needs to be addressed properly. Consequently, perceptions of both community members and the police needs to be taking into account to address problems with policing and the relationship between the community and the SAPS to tackle crime issues in Mitchell‟s Plain. |
Language
en |
Repository
Groningen - University of Groningen
|
Added to C-A: 2014-02-06;12:55:19 |
© Connecting-Africa 2004-2024 | Last update: Friday, March 8, 2024 |
Webmaster
|