STRONG POLICE PRESENCE ESSENTIAL FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, SAYS CRIMINOLOGY EXPERT

Wed 07 August 2024:

Limpopo – The surge in violent confrontations between police and criminals has become a pressing concern for public safety. Since April, it has been reported that at least 40 alleged criminals in KwaZulu Natal have engaged in shootouts with law enforcement.

These figures suggest an increasingly aggressive police stance. Still, they also reflect the severe risks and dangers criminals pose to officers.

Dr Witness Maluleke from the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Limpopo stated that police officers are responding to a significant threat from criminals who are often heavily armed and willing to open fire when confronted by law enforcement.

In such situations, where police have no choice but to respond in kind for their safety, Dr Maluleke argues that heavy-handed tactics are necessary. These measures not only protect the officers and the public but also deter criminals from committing serious crimes.

“The criminals themselves have been attacking the police, and when they are caught red-handed, they open fire on the police. So, I don’t think we need to protect the criminals. We really need to fight fire with fire. The way in which the police are responding across KwaZulu-Natal as well as the Western Cape indicates that the police are now serious about their work.”

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The Police Are Serious About Their Work

For a long time, police officers have been overrun by criminal syndicates within the country, and police corruption has often allowed these criminals to operate freely within society. Though some may disagree with the methods police officers in various provinces use to combat crime, Dr Maluleke believes this demonstrates the police’s serious commitment to serving and protecting the public they have neglected for too long.

However, the worry is that this current approach may prompt criminals to reevaluate their tactics, becoming bolder, more violent, and heavily armed. This could lead to more dangerous encounters and place the public at even greater risk.

Dr Maluleke acknowledged the concern about innocent civilians being caught in the crossfire but believes that a strong police force is essential for restoring safety and security. He emphasised that South African society has been a haven for criminals for too long, and this should not be normalised.

“We really need to understand that we cannot live in a country where we are ruled by criminals, where the criminals hold us under siege. We really need to have responsive strategies that will suggest that we are serious about our attempt to ensure that the safety and security of our citizens are restored across the country and that the criminals are not ruling the country.”

Though Dr Maluleke supports the current firm police strategies in response to crime and criminality, he clarified that they need to operate within the confines of the law. The goal, he emphasised, is not to shoot to kill but to protect the public and prevent criminals from ruling through fear.

“We really need to understand that we need to do everything within the ambit of the law. We must not create a situation where we are living in a South African country rooted in a war between criminals and the police. We really need to address that; we cannot live in that state.”

“Criminals must understand that we are not in a country where we can normalise criminality. We need to be in a country where every citizen feels free to walk at night and feel free to drive their vehicle at night without any fear of being attacked.”

written by Thaabit Kamaar

This article originaly published in Salaamedia Click Here