SAPS: Crimes against children has decreased year on year

Lusanda Bill
05 June 2015

The South African Police Service said its child protection and sexual offences investigations unit has doubled its capacity to deal with crimes against children.

This as Child Protection Week ends on Sunday. According to stats, crimes against children has decreased year on year from 48,718 reported cases for the 2012/2013 fiscal year to 45,230.

The conviction rate has increased to 75%.

Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo said the FCS unit, which was re-launched in 2010 after being absorbed into the greater police service in 2006, has since doubled its resources and now has 176 units and close on 2,500 members nationwide.

Naidoo said in addition, the FCS employs a network of highly skilled Forensic Social Workers to assist with assessment of abused children and the compilation of court reports, as well as for providing an expert testimony in court.

 

“And this fundamentally is to assist investigators to secure convictions of perpetrators in court” Naidoo added.