A study was conducted to describe and interpret the personal strategies that South African Police Service officers in the Vhembe District, Limpopo Province, use in their line of work. These are strategies to deal with the impact of the primary victims’ critical incidents of rape, domestic violence, murder and road accidents. The focus was on describing the impact of the critical incidents that the officers are exposed to, which manifest in a form of traumatic stress, namely, vicarious traumatisation, and management of this impact. Twenty participants were selected through purposive and theoretical sampling techniques from the family violence, child protection and sexual offences, domestic violence, field training, detective and social crime prevention units. Unstructured open-ended interviews, diaries and follow-up telephone interviews were used as data collection methods and data were collected in the participants’ home languages, Tshivenda and Xitsonga. Data gathered necessitated looking into both the aspects of the officers’ organisational and operational work. Data were thus analysed through the content thematic and constant comparative data analysis methods. The results first presented a profile of police vicarious traumatisation in the Vhembe District, which include the types of critical incidents exposed to, the organisational and operational stressors that lead to vicarious traumatisation, and the description of vicarious traumatisation symptoms. Second, a theoretical framework of the process of police critical incidents impact management (PCIIM) was developed. The framework shows that the management of the impact of the encountered incidents is inspired by various coping needs and subcultures of the officers, and the management takes place through the use of two styles of trauma management, namely, the linear and multilateral styles, which refer to application of coping strategies successively and the combination of horizontal and vertical application of coping strategies, respectively. The coping strategies used by the officers help them to have an objective understanding of the critical incidents encountered, have less severe symptoms of vicarious traumatisation, some symptoms last for shorter periods than before, and other symptoms are no longer experienced. Resilience to the encountered incidents is shown through the development of coping strategies to handle the incidents, facing them, and showing cognitive hardiness. The officers also manage to reflect on the experiences encountered, engage in narratives about them and mutual help thus still working towards attaining posttraumatic growth. / Psychology / D. Litt. et Phil. (Psychology)

It has been claimed that since the dawn of democracy, there have been remarkable strides which were made to deal with the inequalities and disparities of the previous years. Former South African Police was reformed into a formidable South African Police Service that recognises the importance of women in the police. However, the SAPS is still one of the male-dominated organisations in this country. The inclusion and the retaining of women within operational policing and in management as well as leadership positions is still not yet successful. This research aimed to explore the causes for underrepresentation of policewomen in operational policing in Tshwane. The aim of this study was attained by gathering information through literature review, interviews and document analysis. In this qualitative study, semi-structured one-on-one interviews were conducted with twenty policewomen from four different identified police stations in Tshwane. Each identified police station was represented by five participants who directly perform operational policing. The findings of this study show that the organisation is still very unbalanced with the scale favouring males in operational policing. It is therefore recommended that SAPS should empower women in operational policing with the appropriate knowledge, skills and competencies through providing opportunities for career development and growth to successfully realise the SAPS’ dream of including and retaining women in operational policing, as well as in management and leadership positions and providing all women in the SAPS with the necessary support. The development and review of a regulatory framework and strategies that promote gender equality are also paramount. / Police Practice / M. Tech. (Policing)

Although male perpetration of violence against female partners is a global concern, there continues to be insufficient research attention on this phenomenon. The current study aimed at exploring experiences of male perpetrators of violence against their female partners in intimate relationships. The specific objectives were to get an understanding of the reasons and beliefs contributing towards perpetration of domestic violence, explore the barriers that perpetrators encounter with regard to receiving reformative support, and to suggest possible strategies that can be adopted to reduce or prevent domestic violence. Adopting a qualitative approach, data were obtained through in-depth interviews and participant observations involving 22 convicted male perpetrators in the Nsawam Prisons in the Eastern Region of Ghana, followed by interviews with stakeholders at the offices of the Domestic Violence & Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service. The Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used to analyse the data. Each transcript went through a thorough analysis to extract themes which were subsequently Synchronised. Overall, the findings from the present study elucidated some theoretical and practical implications. It reveals the following major themes: perception of inequality between sexes, bride price, childhood experience/witness of abuse, and victim blaming as contributory factors to the phenomenon of male violence against women. / Psychology / Ph. D. (Psychology)

Contemporary policing in South Africa is similarly beset by some glaring fault lines that are branded by high levels of criminality, power abuses and misconduct within the police ranks. Though it is difficult to quantify how the related issues are perceived by the majority of South Africans, this widespread challenge effectively diminishes the police’s moral right to hold power within communities. Furthermore, the Constitution of the Republic of South African Act (No. 108 of 1996) places the South African Police Service (SAPS) in the frontline against crime and obliges it to protect and secure the inhabitant of the republic and their property, this reads in accordance with Section 205(3) of this Act. However, this will be effective only if the SAPS management consists of employees who are trained professionals with appropriate proficiency and whose integrity is beyond approach. In the light of growing concern about ethics and morality in South Africa, this study present that it is important to gain a better understanding of the natural progression of moral reasoning that comes with maturity. This can be accomplished by evaluating the South African Police Service’s moral right to hold power in the Mankweng area as this study attempt. This qualitative study adopted phenomenography research design to purposively explore perceptions of 20 community members and 5 SAPS management in the Mankweng area. Data was collected using the face-to-face semi-structured phenomenological interview and the data was analysed and interpreted, with the adoption of Textual Analysis (TA). This study establishes that there is no moral alertness of using outreach, educational skills and awareness campaigns by the local SAPS in collaborations with community members and there is a decrease in the resilience of criminal victimisation within the community; coupled with lack of strength regarding the relationship amongst safety and security stakeholders and lack of information sharing about crime fighting initiatives within the community and the police. For the conclusion and recommendations: police actions and an increase of unappealing practices has raised a number of safety concerns among South African citizens, neighbouring countries and perhaps international community observers as well and it is recommended that collaboratively working on these findings can enhance policing in the communal level. / Criminology and Security Science / M.A. (Police Science)

This study evaluated money laundering investigation conducted at the Financial and Asset Forfeiture Investigation (FAFI) Unit of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) in Pretoria. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews conducted with financial and asset forfeiture investigators attached to the DPCI who are responsible for investigating money laundering. From the results of this study, it became apparent that participants experience a number of challenges in the investigation of money laundering. This study makes recommendations that could empower investigators at the FAFI of the DPCI with enhanced skills and knowledge to effectively investigate cases of money laundering. / Criminology and Security Science / M.A. (Criminal Justice--Forensic Investigation)

The aim of this research was to establish whether sector policing had been integrated in the SAPS in the Limpopo Province, and to supply information to the SAPS and community members that may improve their ability to implement sector policing. The research question ”How members in the Limpopo Province perceive sector policing” is investigated in this research. A literature study on sector policing was completed and thereafter a questionnaire was developed. An empirical study was done by questionnaire on the status of sector policing in the SAPS in the Limpopo Province during March, April, May and June 2008. The sample involved 333 police and community members were used in the analysis. / Police Practice / M.A. (Police Science)

Summary in English and Afrikaans / Crime is unwanted in any society because it brings about fear, anger and hatred. As people living in a world of constant change, we tend to strive for innovation which this research endeavours. The South African Police Service (SAPS) and all relevant role-players become partners in the fight against not only crime, but also community problems that threaten the well-being of inhabitants. Local Government is attempting to develop communities in municipal areas and SAPS primary function is to reduce crime. If crime is one of the main obstacles in improving the quality of life, then surely government authorities must take responsibility for local safety, and who better than these two key organisations taking the lead. This study investigates the roles of SAPS and Local Government in crime prevention in the Cape Winelands District Municipality; also whether their co-operation brings about fruitful results and what interventions are actively in place. It further explores whether their integrated approach has an impact on the safety and security of local communities. Lastly, it determines whether their collaboration is effective or not; and what additional improvements can be implemented, seeking new insights for future reference. Three hundred (300) questionnaires were distributed to senior management members of the SAPS and Local Government, as well as other relative stakeholders who contribute to increasing safety. Crime reduction influences all spheres of society, for example our economy, businesses, tourism etc. Reducing crime and building safer communities must be a priority for all South Africans. To achieve this, crime prevention programmes should be initiated at community level, since crime prevention involves responding to a few priority problems, using multi-agency approaches. Government legislation and policies urge both organisations to take the lead in implementing crime prevention projects which this study discovered. This analysis is not to re-invent the wheel but to find effective ways in strengthening partnership which leads to new knowledge in the field of crime prevention at local level. One of the basic needs of any community is the need for safety and security and this study aims to assist and contribute to increase safety using an integrated approach. / Enige samelewing het „n afkeur aan misdaad omdat dit angs, haat en negatiewe emosies aanwakker. Omdat die mensdom gedurig verandering in die gesig staar, poog hierdie navorsing om nuwe idees. Die Suid Afrikaanse Polisie Diens (SAPD) en ander rolspelers is vennote in die bekamping van misdaad, asook probleme wat die welstand van elke gemeenskap bedreig. Plaaslike owerhede beywer hulle om gemeenskappe te vestig terwyl misdaadbekamping die SAPD se primêre doel is. Hierdie studie ondersoek die rolle van die SAPD en plaaslike owerhede in die bekamping van misdaad binne die grense van die Wynland Distrikte Munisipailteit. Ook ondersoek hierdie studie of daar vrugbare uitslae en aktiewe maatreëls in plek is om misdaad hok te slaan. Verder ondersoek die studie of gesamentlike aksies enige impak op die gemeenskap se veiligheid en sekuriteit het. Ten laaste bepaal hierdie studie of die samewerking vrugte afwerp of nie; en watter nuwe metodes aangewend kan word ter verbetering in die lig van toekomstige vraagstukke rondom misdaad. Tydens hierdie studie is 300 vraelyste versprei onder senior lede van die SAPD en plaaslike regering sowel as ander gemeenskap rolspelers. Misdaadbekamping speel „n belangrike rol in enige gemeenskap aangesien dit „n impak het op die ekonomie, handel, toerisme, ens. Dus is die verlaging van die misdaad syfer en die bou van veilige gemeenskappe elke Suid-Afrikaner se plig. Om hierdie doel te bereik, verg samemerking tussen elke vennoot, aangesien misdaadbekamping elke persoon, organisasie en regerings department se prioriteit behoort te wees. Wetgewing moedig alle rolspelers aan en in hierdie geval, SAPD en plaaslike owerhede, om die voortou te neem tydens die implementering van projekte ter bekamping van misdaad. Hierdie studie se mikpunt is om effektiewe maniere te vind om die vennootskap in misdaadbekamping op plaaslike vlak te versterk. Die uiteindelike doel is om „n positiewe bydrae te maak in die basiese behoeftes van elke gemeenskap; om veiligheid en sekuriteit deur „n standpunt van vennootskap te ondersoek en te implementeer; en sodoende „n omgee kultuur in dié Distrik te verseker. / Police Practice / D. Litt. et Phil. (Police Science)

The aim of this study is to assess the implementation of the Youth Crime Prevention Desk (YCPD) programme in the Ekurhuleni North Cluster in Gauteng. Since the Social Crime Prevention Strategy was introduced in the South African Police Service (SAPS), no study has been conducted in the organisation to assess whether this strategy has yielded the expected results in line with its objectives. Data was collected by means of in-depth interviews as well as focus group interviews with Community Policing Forum (CPF) members, YCPD programme community volunteers, SAPS social crime prevention coordinators, Department of Community Safety (DoCS) social crime prevention coordinators and a station commander in the Ekurhuleni North Cluster. These participants are closely involved with the YCPD programme and freely expressed their views, understanding, knowledge and beliefs in relation to the implementation and associated activities of the YCPD programme. In addition, the researcher conducted a comprehensive literature study of the national legislation, SAPS policies and directives that oversee and promote social crime prevention in South Africa, as well as library resources and international studies. Various objectives were fulfilled in the execution of this study:  It was determined that social crime prevention guidelines are not complied with regarding the implementation of the YCPD.  It was determined that the YCPD is not achieving its proposed aims and objectives. In addition, this study and its results provide a framework for mitigating the challenges encountered during the implementation of strategies for improving the establishment of the YCPD in the Ekurhuleni North Cluster. The findings of the research indicate that the YCPD programme has not been effectively implemented within the Ekurhuleni North Cluster, since it became evident that the YCPD role-players are confronted by various challenges, which impede the proper implementation of the programme. Based on the findings of this study, a Youth Crime Prevention Desk Implementation Framework was developed. This framework could serve as a guideline advising the South African Police Service, Department of Community Safety, Community Policing Forums and Youth Crime Prevention Desk programme’s community volunteers in the Ekurhuleni North Cluster how the implementation of the programme could be improved. This framework could also contribute towards further identifying best practices with a view to benchmarking such a framework in other areas in South Africa. This study makes a significant contribution to the improvement of the implementation of the Youth Crime Prevention Desk programme in the Ekurhuleni North Cluster and to youth social crime and violence in general. / Police Practice / D. Litt. et Phil. (Police Science)

South Africa has been synonymous with police brutality for many years. This stigma remains till this day. The South African Police Service and the Government has tried in vain to change the image of the South African Police Service. This research was conducted to analyse the prevention of police brutality in the Western Cape, focusing on Cape Town. This will include the effects police brutality has had on the community, and the resulting breakdown of relations between the police and the community. This study will compare statistics of police brutality related incidents from South Africa with that of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Australia and Nigeria. This comparison will indicate if South Africans do suffer more brutality cases at the hands of the police or is brutality by police officers a worldwide phenomenon. The research questions that were asked during this study are if police brutality is a problem, why does police brutality occur, how does it affect the community and what can be done to prevent police brutality. This study used a mixed method of research methodology to attempt the answer the complex questions asked. This included survey questionnaires that were distributed to police officials, Community Police Forum members and the community around the Cape Town Central Business District. Semi structured interviews were held with members of the police’s departmental hearing section. Literature was also obtained regarding police brutality. Prevention of police brutality strategies from the United States of America, United Kingdom, Australia and Nigeria were obtained to compare these strategies and determine which have been successful and could be a benefit to the South African Police Service. The current strategies the South African Police Service have also put in place will be discussed which will include legislation, white paper on safety and security, the green paper on police practice and the National Development plan 2030. Combining all the information obtained, this research will provide findings regarding the phenomenon of police brutality and possible recommendations that could assist with the prevention of police brutality. This in turn will help build a better relationship between the South African Police Service and its Citizens that they swore to protect and serve. / Criminology and Security Science / M. A. (Criminal Justice)

The contemporary threat of terrorism has changed the ways in which government and the public view the world. Unlike the existential threat from nation states in previous centuries, today, government and the public spend much of their effort looking for the inward threat. Brought about by high profile events such as 9/11, 7/7, and 3/11, and exacerbated by globalisation, hyper-connected social spheres, and the media, the threats from within are reinforced daily. In the UK, government has taken bold steps to foment public safety and public security but has also been criticised by some who argue that government actions have labelled Muslims as the ‘suspect other'. This thesis explores the counter-terrorism environment in London at the community/government interface, how the Metropolitan Police Service and London Fire Brigade deliver counter-terrorism policy, and how individuals and groups are reacting. It specifically explores the realities of the lived experience of those who make up London's ‘suspect community' and whether or not counter-terrorism policy can be linked to further marginalisation, radicalism, and extremism. By engaging with those that range from London's Metropolitan Police Service's Counterterrorism Command (SO15) to those that make up the radical fringe, an ethnographic portrait is developed. Through that ethnographic portrait the ‘ground truth' and complexities of the lived experience are made clear and add significant contrast to the aseptic policy environment.