The quarterly release of crime statistics will enable closer scrutiny of crime trends and pave the way for more effective policing.

Francois Beukman‚ chairman of Parliament’s portfolio committee on police‚ has welcomed a cabinet decision to release crime figures more frequently.

Minister in the Presidency Jeff Radebe confirmed the decision on Thursday.

“It will enable closer scrutiny of crime trends and ensure that pro-active‚ effective decisions and interventions are made in hotspot areas‚” said Beukman.

Western Cape Community Safety MEC Dan Plato said that annual crime statistics were not “informing proactive efforts from law enforcement‚ different spheres of government‚ the safety fraternity or the community at large”.

“The actual number of reported crimes as displayed in the annual crime statistics mean very little if these figures are not used to help inform safety interventions to ultimately reduce crime‚” he said.

“Crime stats should not belong only to the police but should be used to inform the public of risks in their communities and empower strategic action from the entire safety fraternity‚” said Plato.

Radebe said that police would still release a comprehensive‚ annual crime statistics report‚ in addition to the new quarterly reports. — TMG Digital