Johannesburg - The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) believes that house robberies, business robberies and other violent crimes will most likely see an increase when the South African Police Service (SAPS) releases its annual crime statistics on Friday.
On Tuesday, the ISS provided their own predictions based on research through numerous organisations that have already noted a steady increase in crime over the 2012/2013 year.
Statistics from the insurance industry show that business robberies and house robberies have increased this year based on the number of claims submitted.
The South African Banking Risk Information Centre also revealed that cheque card fraud has risen by 30 percent, robbery incidents in banks are up 89 percent and cash-in-transit heists have also increased by 18 percent.
The Consumer Grids Risk Initiative has also provided statistics showing that armed robberies at malls have increased by 52 percent.
The Grant Thornton Business Survey has also recorded, from 2011 that significantly more of those surveyed have experienced crime either through personal experience or incidents involving friends and relatives.
The institute's Gareth Newham has said, however, that the expected increase in violent crime statistics is not necessarily because of a lack of resources within the police force.
He said that the police budget (R68.79 billion for 2013) has allowed police to hire more staff, create more visible policing and yield more arrests over the past decade.
However, he said the mass arrest approach is creating a rift between the public and the police service.
Considering that there were 1 682 763 arrests last year, but only 323 390 finalisations at the courts, Newham believes that these arrests are creating the impression that police are arresting too many people, especially because many have “nasty” experiences with violent police.
The Star