The Bigger Picture: What the National Victims of Crime

Survey findings tell us about victims of crime

www.issafrica.org/crimehub

ConferenceInternational & National Perspectives on Crime and

Criminal Justice

Pretoria, South Africa3 February 2012

Overview

• General Crime Levels

• VOCS Background and Methodology

• Perceptions of Crime and Safety

• Perceptions of Support Services

• Perceptions of SAPS and Courts

• Research Implications

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SAPS: 20 most serious crimes recorded (1994/95 – 2010/11)

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The 2010 Statistics SAVOCS - Objectives

The Victims of Crime Survey (VOCS) series is a countrywide household-based survey and has three main objectives:

• The nature, extent and patterns of crime in South Africa, from the victim’s perspective;

• Victim risk and victim proneness, to inform crime prevention and public education programmes;

• People’s perceptions of services provided by the police and the courts as components of the criminal justice system.

• http://www.statssa.gov.za/publications/P0341/P03412011.pdf

4Source: Statistics SA, 2011

2010 VOCS - MethodologyPopulation: • All private households & workers’ hostels in all 9 provinces• 3080 Primary Sampling Units (PSU)• Probability Proportional to size (PPS)• 29,754 households ultimately selected• January to March 2011• Asked about victimisation levels between January to

December 2010

Limitations: • over-estimates, under-estimates for sensitive incidents,

memory recall, understanding of definitions

5Source: Statistics SA, 2011

National Victimisation SurveysPerceptions of Crime Levels

Source: Statistics SA, 2011 6

National Victimisation SurveysFeelings of safety

Source: Statistics SA, 20117

Knowledge of Victim Support Service

Source: Statistics SA, 20118

Knowledge of Medical Services of Victims of Violent Crime

Source: Statistics SA, 2011 9

Knowledge of Places of Safety for Domestic Violence Survivors

Source: Statistics SA, 2011 10

Victims of Crime Surveys Satisfaction with police

Source: Statistics SA, 2011 11

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Public Confidence in Policing

60.7% of SA households indicated that they would contact SAPS first to come to their rescue when needed82.4% of households' views of the police improved after having official contact with them64.6% of households were satisfied with the way police dealt with crime in their areaTherefore, 1 in 3 - 35.4% were dissatisfied

Source: Statistics SA, 2011www.issafrica.org/Crimehub

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Reasons for Satisfaction (65%)

78.9% - Police are committed77.9% - Police come to the scene of the crime72.1% - Police arrest criminals70.8% - Police are trustworthy54.5% - Police respond on time38.5% - Police recover stolen property 9.1% - Other

Note: Multiple Response Question

Source: Statistics SA, 2011www.issafrica.org/Crimehub

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Reasons for Dissatisfaction (35%)

68.1% - Police do not respond on time56.2% - Police are lazy46.6% - Police are corrupt42.5% - Police do not come to area41.0% - release criminals early39.3% - Police never recover goods36.5% - Police do not have enough resources32.8% - Cooperate with criminals28.4% - Harsh towards victims 4.6% - OtherNote: Multiple Response Question

Source: Statistics SA, 2011www.issafrica.org/Crimehub

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Knowledge of Courts

90% Knew where the nearest magistrates court were64,7% of the households indicated that they were satisfied with the way the courts did their work

51,8% thought that courts passed appropriate sentences29,8% indicated that courts achieved a good conviction rate17,9% praised the courts because they were not corrupt

Source: Statistics SA, 2011www.issafrica.org/Crimehub

Research Implications• True need and impact can be measured on the larger society not only on victims

through the system• More analysis relating to the needs and experiences of victims can be done once

the data set becomes available• Could lead to more targeted public awareness of availability and location of

support services• VOCS and other victim specific data sets can provide improved systematic

quantitative and qualitative empirical research

Better analysis and coordination of information can lead to the following on a national, provincial and local level for all support organisations:

• Improved analysis and understanding of the reality of victims• Better planning and policy development to minimise challenges to victims• Greater impact assessment potential • Also to be used in funding proposals

www.issafrica.org/Crimehub Source: Statistics SA, 2011 16

The Crime Hub

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Online Crime Map ViewerAssault GBH totals

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Public facilities:Sandton and Alexandra police precincts

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT WWW.ISSAFRICA.ORG/CRIMEHUB