A critical analysis of the investigative capacity of general detectives in handling fraud cases

Abstract

This study investigates the question of investigative capacity of South African Police Service general detectives at the local station level with regard to fraud investigation. The research presented in this thesis is based on a qualitative thematic analysis of the systemic investigative capacity of the detectives handling fraud and related offences. Fraud related crimes are consistently dismissed and perceived as less serious than violent crime, yet the impact of fraud affects individuals, organisations, and society. This study includes interviews with n = 15 (83%) participants out of 18 (100%) using a semi-structured interview schedule for data collection. The available literature indicates the increasing incidents of general fraud being inadequately investigated at the local police stations because of investigative incapacity. The complexities of any criminal investigation require sufficient resources to achieve the highest level of investigative performance. In this regard, criminals are gradually outwitting the conventional methods of fraud investigation, especially in terms of technological advancements. The study’s findings reveal how general detectives are systematically tested to their capacity in relation to fraud investigation – inter alia, participants identified the following challenges to meeting investigative objectives: ambiguous general fraud investigation directives, poor training, limited resources, abuse of available resources, unreasonably high workloads, and human resource shortages. These institutional factors need consideration to allow progress in criminal investigation procedures. This study creates the context for the recommendation that a series of systemic reforms be introduced, based on a professional model, pertaining specifically to fraud investigation at the local police station level. This means some of the distinct investigative practices that are effective be inverted and strengthened in recognition of the scope and complexity of general fraud, and the influence this complexity has on investigative methodology. For example, setting up proper and recognised station-level fraud units to handle incoming “general fraud” cases, staffed with trained detectives, who have access to adequate resources. This would create an opportunity to address institutional issues around training to rectify general detectives’ core skill deficiencies prior to them being assigned to criminal cases. Training should include case management, investigative procedures, and the use of technology (to effectively combat digital fraud). Moreover, it is vital to maintain an oversight over the fraud mandates which differentiate the scope of practice between vii specialist and general detectives, with a thorough understanding of what constitutes general fraud and complex, organised fraud. It is furthermore suggested that local and international best practice trends be implemented by general detectives in their fraud investigations.

Thutopatlisiso eno e sekaseka ntlha ya bokgoni jwa go batlisisa jwa matseka a kakaretso a Tirelo ya Sepodisi sa Aforikaborwa kwa legatong la seteišene sa selegae malebana le dipatlisiso tsa boferefere. Patlisiso e e tlhagisitsweng mo thesising eno e theilwe mo tshekatshekong e e supang, e tlhatlhoba le go kwala ditiragalo tsa bokgoni jwa go dira dipatlisiso jwa matseka a a dirang ka ditlolomolao tsa boferefere le tse di amanang le tseo. Bosenyi jo bo amanang le boferefere gantsi bo kgaphelwa thoko mme bo tsewa e le bosenyi jo bo sa tsenelelang go tshwana le bosenyi jwa tirisodikgoka, fela ditlamorago tsa boferefere di ama batho, ditheo le setšhaba. Thutopatlisiso eno e akaretsa dipotsolotso le banni le seabe ba le n = 15 (83%) go tswa go ba le 18 (100%), go dirisiwa sejule ya dipotsolotso e e batlileng e rulagane go kokoanya tshedimosetso. Dikwalo tse di gona di supa koketsego ya ditiragalo tsa go se batlisisiwe go go lekaneng ga boferefere jwa kakaretso kwa diteišeneng tsa selegae tsa sepodisi ka ntlha ya tlhaelo ya bokgoni jwa go batlisisa. Marara a patlisiso epe fela ya bosenyi a tlhoka ditlamelo tse di lekaneng go fitlhelela tiragatso e e kwa godimo ya patlisiso. Mo ntlheng eno, disenyi di tlhalefetse mekgwa ya tlwaelo ya dipatlisiso tsa boferefere, bogolo segolo mo ntlheng ya tswelelopele ya thekenoloji. Diphitlhelelo tsa thutopatlisiso di bontsha ka moo bokgoni jwa matseka bo lebaganang le teko e e boitshegang ka gona malebana le dipatlisiso tsa boferefere – gareng ga tse dingwe, banni le seabe ba supile dikgwetlho tse di latelang malebana le go fitlhelela maitlhomo a dipatlisiso: dikaelo tse di sa tlhamalalang ka kakaretso malebana le dipatlisiso tsa boferefere, katiso e e bokoa, ditlamelo tse di tlhaelang, tiriso e e botlhaswa ya ditlamelo tse di gona, selekano sa tiro se se kwa godimo moo go sa amogelesegeng mmogo le tlhaelo ya badiri. Dintlha tseno tsa mo setheong di tlhoka go lebelelwa go kgontsha gore go nne le tswelelopele mo ditsamaisong tsa dipatlisiso tsa bosenyi. Thutopatlisiso eno e tlhoma bokao jwa dikatlenegiso tsa gore go itsesewe diphetogo tsa thulaganyo di le mmalwa, di theilwe mo sekaong sa porofešenale, se se totileng dipatlisiso tsa boferefere kwa legatong la seteišene sa selegae sa sepodisi. viii Seno se kaya gore ditiragatso dingwe tsa dipatlisiso tse di dirang sentle di rulaganngwe sešwa le go maatlafadiwa go lebeletswe bogolo le marara a boferefere ka kakaretso, mmogo le tshusumetso ya marara ano mo mokgweng wa dipatlisiso. Seno se kaya, go naya sekai, go tlhoma diyuniti tsa boferefere tse di siameng le tse di lemogwang kwa legatong la seteišene go samagana le dikgetse tse di tsenang tsa "boferefere jwa kakaretso", di na le matseka a a katisitsweng, a a kgonang go fitlhelela ditlamelo tse di maleba. Seno se tlaa dira tšhono ya go samagana le dintlha tsa setheo malebana le katiso go lolamisa tlhaelo ya bokgoni jwa botlhokwa jwa matseka a kakaretso pele ga ba ka rebolelwa dikgetse tsa bosenyi. Katiso e tshwanetse go akaretsa tsamaiso ya dikgetse, tsamaiso ya dipatlisiso le tiriso ya thekenoloji (go lwantsha boferefere jwa dijitale ka nonofo). Mo godimo ga moo, go botlhokwa go nna le tlhokomelo ya dithomo tsa boferefere e e farologanyang tiro ya matseka a baitseanape le a kakaretso, go tlhaloganngwa sentle pharologano magareng ga boferefere jwa kakaretso le boferefere jo bo marara jo bo rulaganeng. Gape go tshitshinngwa gore matseka a kakaretso a diragatse mekgwa ya tiragatso e e gaisang ya selegae le ya boditšhabatšhaba mo dipatlisisong tsa ona tsa boferefere.