Department of Criminology and Security Sciencehttps://hdl.handle.net/10500/27702024-03-29T14:46:02Z2024-03-29T14:46:02ZExploring underutilisation of local criminal record centre for fingerprints investigation in SecundaTambani, Collenhttps://hdl.handle.net/10500/308152024-02-14T13:23:17Z2021-10-14T00:00:00ZExploring underutilisation of local criminal record centre for fingerprints investigation in Secunda
Tambani, Collen
The responsibility of the Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC) in the South African Police Service (SAPS) is to provide evidence in court by means of fingerprints obtained from the crime scene. When the LCRC is not utilised accordingly, justice is compromised, and criminals run free in the streets. The LCRC is not fully performing its responsibility as per its mandate due to unforeseen hindrances that come into play during the reporting of a crime. Research is necessary to uncover such hindrances.
The main reason in this research was to explore the underutilisation of the LCRC for fingerprint investigation in Secunda. The focus was on exposing the setbacks or causal factors of the underutilisation of the LCRC in order to address them for the improvement of the utilisation of the LCRC at crime scenes. The research sought to highlight importance of LCRC in the crime investigation. It is as well to emphasise the need for SAPS to activate the LCRC where fingerprint collection is required at the crime scene.
The motivation of this study is that the LCRC, Client Service Centre (CSC), Crime Prevention, the Department of Justice and the community at large might not be aware of all the hindrances of the LCRC in performing its duty. This follows the fact that during the Crime Combat Committee Forum (CCCF), the commander of the LCRC is also expected to address the problem of the underutilisation of the unit to the station commanders. The station commanders should therefore address the issue with the shift commanders in order to alert the members about the importance of fingerprints in the crime scene investigation. They should consider fingerprint department each time when fingerprints are needed.
This study used qualitative research approach in interviews which were used as a method to data collection. The sample was composed of 40 participants sampled from the three sub-branches of the SAPS which are CSC, Crime Prevention, and LCRC (forensic experts).
This study explored the underutilisation of the LCRC at crime scenes. The study was able to pinpoint setbacks and also came up with suggestions on how the utilisation of the LCRC for fingerprints investigation can be improved. Through the themes that emerged during data analysis, this study found out that there is little knowledge and a pressing need for awareness that should focus on the meaning, importance and necessity of fingerprints during the investigation of crime.
The study realised that justice is a constitutional right for all. If the LCRC could be fully utilised as per the recommendations of this study, then the successful prosecution and justice could be obtained for all.
2021-10-14T00:00:00ZAn evaluation of first responder police performance in a housebreaking crime scene at Honeydew policing areaLesese, Mabareki Glensinahhttps://hdl.handle.net/10500/308032024-02-09T14:01:10Z2023-02-01T00:00:00ZAn evaluation of first responder police performance in a housebreaking crime scene at Honeydew policing area
Lesese, Mabareki Glensinah
Unsolved housebreaking cases in South Africa are a major concern. This raises a question about first responder police performance in housebreaking crime scenes. This study evaluated the first responder police performance in a specific housebreaking crime scene in the Honeydew Policing Area of Gauteng province. A qualitative research approach was adopted, in which a literature review, archives and oral face-to-face interviews were utilised to substantiate the research findings. Interviews were conducted with detectives and visible policing officials who are inter alia responsible for responding to housebreaking crime scenes.
A crime scene is any area where a crime has occurred and the study examined several key related ideas, namely crime scene contamination, evidence/chain of custody, first responder, and housebreaking. The findings reveal that the purpose of visiting the crime scene as a first responder involves the process of planning and implementing measures to take command and secure the crime scene; ensure the authenticity and uniqueness of evidence and exhibits; and investigate. The preliminary investigation is the first phase of a lengthy investigation process.
The study found that the first responding officers who attend housebreaking crime scenes lack knowledge about securing the crime scene, resulting in contamination of the crime scene. Evidence contamination can have a negative impact on whether or not an investigation is successful. Unfortunately, similar mistakes have occurred in several South African cases. This raises the question of whether first responders have adequate training in crime scene management and evidence preservation.
It is recommended that first responders and detectives at Honeydew Police Station should continually be informed of the contents of the SAPS National Instruction 1: Crime scene management of 2015 by means of training interventions. This will provide first responders (visible policing officers and detectives) with the critical knowledge and skills for efficient crime scene management, process planning and implementation, and will also help eliminate the most common mistakes made by first responders at the scene of a crime, because these carry significant weight in the execution of their daily duties. The Honeydew community, the local South African Police Service, and other relevant stakeholders need to fully understand the modus operandi of a housebreaking crime. Understanding the modus operandi would provide a detailed source of information and influence strategies for effectively responding to this crime. These must be understood by the first responders so they can successfully investigate and prosecute perpetrators. This research provides suggestions that will assist in obtaining convictions and reducing the number of housebreaking cases.
2023-02-01T00:00:00ZAn evaluation of Tshwane metro police department's crime prevention role in protecting the assets of the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, Gauteng, South AfricaMdluli, Jan Vusumuzihttps://hdl.handle.net/10500/308022024-02-09T13:43:31Z2023-09-22T00:00:00ZAn evaluation of Tshwane metro police department's crime prevention role in protecting the assets of the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, Gauteng, South Africa
Mdluli, Jan Vusumuzi
Traffic policing, enforcement of the city’s by-laws, and preventing and combating crime in cooperation with the South African Police Service (SAPS) stand at the forefront of the Municipal Police Service (MPS) main mandate. South Africa has eight Metropolitan Police Departments (MPDs) across five provinces (namely Ekurhuleni (EMPD), Johannesburg (JMPD), Tshwane (TMPD), Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality, Durban Metro Police Service, and the Cape Town Metropolitan Police Department). Two of these metros (i.e., Mangaung and Nelson Mandela Bay) are yet to be operationalised due to implementation issues and court-related matters. The nature of the mandate, responsibilities, and roles of the MPS in South Africa is quite complex, owing to the fragmented and often cumbersome legislative framework.
Multiple theoretical frameworks through five theories were applied guided by their applicability and relevancy to the current study. Through an interpretivist research paradigm adopting a qualitative mono-single case study strategy, 14 TMPD metro police officers were interviewed to understand their experiences, perceptions, and opinions in their role in the municipal asset protection mandate. Atlas.ti, a qualitative data analysis software was used to analyse data. Five themes emerged: legislative loopholes, synergy inter-and intra-stakeholders, challenges with the asset protection mandate, strategy-oriented mandate, and improvement strategies.
The results of the study revealed a variety of challenges experienced by metro police officers such as the insufficient and inadequate allocation of resources, inadequate management support in the provision of resources, dissatisfaction with remuneration practices and promotion opportunities, lack of regular performance management and evaluation systems, ineffective and inefficient strategy-oriented mandate, lack of effective technology-aided crime prevention techniques and strategies, lack of adequate capacity development interventions and inadequate collaboration with CPFs especially in townships.
Based on the findings and drawing from the limitations of the study, the recommendations for future research are provided, so that a comprehensive understanding of the role of traffic and law enforcement officers in crime prevention and protecting assets of the metropolitan municipalities can be enhanced lack of clarity on the articulating the crime prevention mandate, in the context of MPDs, especially the municipal asset protection function. The contribution of the study is three-fold – empirical and theoretical, methodological, and practical contributions.
2023-09-22T00:00:00ZA critical analysis of the format to obtain cell phone records in terms of Section 205 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977Makuwa, Putiki Danielhttps://hdl.handle.net/10500/307462024-01-22T13:01:43Z2021-09-26T00:00:00ZA critical analysis of the format to obtain cell phone records in terms of Section 205 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977
Makuwa, Putiki Daniel
In this study, the researcher critically analyses the format to obtain cell phone records in terms of Section 205 of the Criminal Procedure Act (No. 51 of 1977). The format to obtain cell phone records plays a vital role in the investigation of crime. To determine the importance of this format, the researcher has formulated the following research questions to address the research problem:
• What are the objectives of investigation?
• Which format should be used to obtain cell phone records in terms of Section 205 of the Criminal Procedure Act (No. 51 of 1977)?
A qualitative research design approach was adopted in this study. National and international sources of literature were consulted, in conjunction with semi-structured interviews conducted with Network Service Provider Forensic Personnel from Johannesburg and prosecutors from the Specialised Commercial Crime Unit in Pretoria.
The format to obtain cell phone records in terms of Section 205 of the Criminal Procedure Act (No. 51 of 1977) was formulated. A range of recommendations were proposed for more investigation on issues highlighted in the findings.
2021-09-26T00:00:00Z