Specialised Police units needed: SAPU

"The fact that crime like murder, attempted murder and robbery is on the increase whilst rape has declined vindicated Sapu's long held view that the SAPS must re-open specialised units within the police," general secretary Oscar Skommere said in a statement.

 

On Friday, national police commissioner Riah Phiyega announced the murder rate had increased, despite overall serious crime declining slightly by 0.4 percent.

 

Murder increased by five percent, and attempted murder by 4.6 percent.

 

Skommere said Sapu wanted to see the re-establishment of specialised units for crimes like murder and robbery, serious and violent crimes, and other units that successfully combated crime.

 

"Sapu calls upon the national commissioner not to come with excuses for her failures. She has the resources to combat crime. The people are sick and tired of lame excuses," he said.

 

"If she feels it is hot in the kitchen she must do the honourable thing and move out of the kitchen. The crime statistics also clearly shows the total collapse of the crime intelligence unit that is costing the country dearly."

 

The police needed to go back to the basics because crime in South Africa had reached "crisis mode" and needed urgent attention, he said.

 

(File Photo: Gallo Images)