As the South African Police Service and Primedia renew their memorandum of understanding (MOU) this week, to continue the anonymous SMS tip-off service Crime Line, the integration of technological solutions is increasingly coming to the fore in the fight against crime.
The MOU aims to continue passing on tip-offs received through Crime Line to the SAPS. The service charges R1 per SMS and also aims for engagement through its Web site.
Lieutenant general Solomon Makgale, SAPS spokesperson, notes whistle-blowing through Crime Line, as well as Crime Stop will make a difference moving forward. "As a direct result of tip-offs received via Crime Line and Crime Stop between 2007 and 2014, 3 280 people have been arrested and over R56 million worth of illegal or unlawfully-obtained property and goods have been seized," he said.
The MOU comes shortly after the City of Cape Town trialled a technological solution that detects gunfire, pinpoints its origin and then notifies police. But the national police leadership aims for greater integration of ICT in its efforts as it looks to modernise its systems.
Tech targets
According to a strategic plan compiled by the SAPS, the Justice Crime Prevention and Security Cluster aims to improve efficiency by integrating existing intra-departmental IT systems and developing additional ones where possible.
Among the targets listed in the plan are:
* A single, coordinated management of continuum of criminal justice and performance.
* A system to be developed to ensure records and data on corruption crimes across the criminal justice system (CJS).
* Developing a database of victims across the CJS.
* Developing a database that enables convictions and sentences related to identity theft.
"The technological focus of the SAPS will be on capacitating the core functions of crime prevention, investigation and detection, in line with the technological systems and requirements of the CJS," the plan states.
SAPS also aims to regularly upgrade its technology infrastructure as part of its fight against cyber crime.
SA is set to play host to the world's anti-crime experts at the Crime Stoppers International Conference, taking place in Cape Town next month. The conference brings together crime fighting organisations, law enforcement bodies, security agencies, NGOs and activists.
Makgale adds local law enforcement officials "will be able to learn, teach, network and share with local and international experts and other delegates".
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