"Their hard work has paid off in that we have had little or no reports of serious violent crimes, particularly in terms of robberies at shopping malls, cash-in-transit heists, bank robberies and ATM bombings"
OPERATION Duty Calls netted almost 250,000 offenders since it started late last year.
National police chief General Bheki Cele announced this at yesterday's media briefing at the South African Police Service Training Institution in Pretoria.
Cele said a total of 233,531 people were arrested for various offences during the operation, which started on October 18.
He commended the SAPS for their hard work and dedication.
"Their hard work has paid off in that we have had little or no reports of serious violent crimes, particularly in terms of robberies at shopping malls, cash-in-transit heists, bank robberies and ATM bombings," adding that those were priority crime areas.
According to the figures, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm topped the list with 19822 cases, most of which were attributed to alcohol abuse.
These were followed by 12901 drug-related cases and 5927 house robberies. Rape and other sexual offences were next with 3906 arrests, murder with 2329 and attempted murders at 1052.
Cele said the remaining cases comprised crimes including common robbery, driving under the influence of liquor, malicious damage to property and theft from and of motor vehicles.
Seized or recovered property included 2833 vehicles, 3222 firearms and 26880 rounds of ammunition, 38million bottles and cans of liquor, knives and a variety of drugs.
Cele said the biggest drug bust was made in Knysna, Western Cape, where police also confiscated two tons of dagga. He said three Chinese, two Taiwanese and a South African were arrested.
Western Cape took the lead in the amount of confiscated liquor.
He described last year as the "year of action for members of the SAPS in pushing back the frontiers of evil".
Cele also thanked the police, emergency services personnel and traffic officials "for their untiring efforts to ensuring that the people of South Africa are and feel safe during the 2010/ 2011 festive period".
230,000 arrested in police festive season operation
"Their hard work has paid off in that we have had little or no reports of serious violent crimes, particularly in terms of robberies at shopping malls, cash-in-transit heists, bank robberies and ATM bombings"
OPERATION Duty Calls netted almost 250,000 offenders since it started late last year.
National police chief General Bheki Cele announced this at yesterday's media briefing at the South African Police Service Training Institution in Pretoria.
Cele said a total of 233,531 people were arrested for various offences during the operation, which started on October 18.
He commended the SAPS for their hard work and dedication.
"Their hard work has paid off in that we have had little or no reports of serious violent crimes, particularly in terms of robberies at shopping malls, cash-in-transit heists, bank robberies and ATM bombings," adding that those were priority crime areas.
According to the figures, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm topped the list with 19822 cases, most of which were attributed to alcohol abuse.
These were followed by 12901 drug-related cases and 5927 house robberies. Rape and other sexual offences were next with 3906 arrests, murder with 2329 and attempted murders at 1052.
Cele said the remaining cases comprised crimes including common robbery, driving under the influence of liquor, malicious damage to property and theft from and of motor vehicles.
Seized or recovered property included 2833 vehicles, 3222 firearms and 26880 rounds of ammunition, 38million bottles and cans of liquor, knives and a variety of drugs.
Cele said the biggest drug bust was made in Knysna, Western Cape, where police also confiscated two tons of dagga. He said three Chinese, two Taiwanese and a South African were arrested.
Western Cape took the lead in the amount of confiscated liquor.
He described last year as the "year of action for members of the SAPS in pushing back the frontiers of evil".
Cele also thanked the police, emergency services personnel and traffic officials "for their untiring efforts to ensuring that the people of South Africa are and feel safe during the 2010/ 2011 festive period".