The use of intelligence led policing in crime prevention by the South African Police Service

Abstract

The advent of democracy in South Africa brought hope for freedom and prosperity for millions of South Africans. The country also experienced an increase in violent crime during those early years of democracy. In order to deal with the threat of crime the government had to develop policing strategies which would eradicate crime and fear of crime. As a young democracy South Africa had to look for policing models which has successfully decreased the high crime rate in developed countries. Fortunately the western democracies like the United Kingdom, United States of America and Australia had some of these answers. Firstly it was community policing, then sector policing, and finally intelligence led policing. This research focuses on the intelligence led policing model by discussing its building blocks in chronological order as follows. Firstly is the historical background of intelligence; Secondly, is information collection; Thirdly is crime analysis; and Fourthly is the Intelligence-cycle, with specific focus on the implementation process in England in the United Kingdom; New Jersey in the United States of America, South Australia State in Australia; and in the Republic of South Africa. A questionnaire was used to collect data on the implementation of intelligence led policing by the South African Police Service