An evaluation of the implementation of sector policing in the Yeoville policing area

Abstract

The SAPS has for years been forging ways of preventing and reducing crime as well as enhancing service delivery to the communities they are serving. They came up with policing strategies such as community policing and sector policing which require that the police and the community work together in addressing the root causes of crime as well as the enabling and contributing factors for effective crime prevention. The implementation of sector policing is governed by National Instruction 3 of 2013 and community policing is guided by the manual for community policing policy framework and guidelines. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the implementation of sector policing in the Yeoville policing area. A qualitative research method was used for this study. An interview schedule was designed and all participants were asked similar questions during the interviews. The data collected was audio taped and transcribed verbatim. A literature review was also conducted to get a better understanding of the subject matter ‘community policing and sector policing’. The objectives of this study were fulfilled considering that: • The level of understanding of the concept sector policing by the police and the community was determined. • The challenges in the implementation of sector policing were identified. • The corrective measures to improve the implementation of sector policing were identified. However, there is no monitoring and evaluation tool to measure the success of sector policing and no funds were allocated for its implementation, and these are some of the factors hindering its effective implementation. Recommendations were made and this study contributes significantly to the understanding of the proper implementation of sector policing by the SAPS for it to be effective. This study’s findings show that sector policing can enhance service delivery and reduce the occurrence of crime if implemented accordingly.