Top cops ‘strategic’ meeting looks at ‘trio crimes’

The increase of the so-called “trio crimes” in South Africa is of serious concern.

Acting national police boss Lieutenant-General Kgomotso Phahlane said this when he was addressing journalists at Ingwenyama Lodge, just outside Mbombela.

He said illegal firearms are the single most contributor to the trio crimes – carjacking, business robberies and house robberies.

“Firearms are commonly used in the commission of the trio crimes and other serious and violent crimes,” Phahlane said.

“We must continue to make a concerted effort together with other stakeholders and communities to remove illegal firearms in the society,” he said.

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National, provincial and cluster commanders held what they call a two-day ‘strategic planning’ meeting from Monday 6 March and concluded on 7 March 2017 .

A task team made up of experienced police commanders and managers in various senior management positions was formed and presented a National Trio Crimes Action Plan.

“Obviously, it would be counter productive for the South African police service to reveal the content of the plan, to publicise tactical information,” the police boss said.

“We can however assure communities that a high level intervention will be implemented immediately, focusing on identified hot spot areas in terms of the trio crimes.

“The South African police service will allocate resources, including budget, vehicles and additional police members to effect the plan and senior officers will be on duty 24/7 to take command and control at local level while the national office will coordinate and monitor the countrywide actions,” said Phahlane.

Crime statistics released for the period of 1 April 2016 to December 2016 showed a downward trend in the 17 community-reported crimes which are grouped into categories of contact-crime, contact-related crime, property-related crime and other serious crime.

(edited by BM)

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