Community Safety
Whether the South African Police Service conducted research, keeps statistics, has any formal strategies to assist victims of repeat victimization/victim recidivism or any targeted focus on preventing repeat victimization/victim recidivism; if so, what are the relevant details?
The South African Police Service informed me as follows:
The South African Police Service Western Cape did not conduct any research. Statistics pertaining to victims assisted friendly rooms, victims seen at victim friendly rooms and victims referred for professional counselling to other service providers is kept in terms of our Victim’s Register at each police stations
- Total number of Victims Seen
- Total number of Victims Referred
Formal strategies to assist victims of repeat victimization/ victim recidivism or any targeted focus on preventing repeat victimization/ victim recidivism does not fall within the scope of SAPS victim friendly services. In terms of the implementation of the Domestic Violence Act, the Domestic Violence Coordinators conducts follow up visits to victims and provide guidance or options to the victims when they are victimized. SAPS also conduct community awareness programmes to address crimes against women and children.
The SAPS must provide a professional, accessible and sensitive service to victims of crime and violence during the reporting and investigation of crime. This is done through the rendering of Victims Friendly Services (VFSs) at police stations. Further the service provider by SAPS is communicated through various platforms, inclusive of Imbizos, pamphlets, via the CPF, etc.