Minister of Police Gen Bheki Cele released the first quarter crime statistics for the 2023-’24 financial year last Friday (18 August), and a few local police stations are among the top 30 ranked in different crime categories.
The statistics are derived from crimes reported to the police from April to June this year.
“We have analysed these recent figures and this ministry remains persuaded, that the decision to aggressively and strategically confront crime, was the right one,” said Cele during his speech. “This aggressive approach I am referring to entails intensified policing operations to prevent and combat crime during high density operations in all provinces. While there are still unacceptably high crime levels, police are pushing back on crime, especially violent crime, which is starting to show some decreases.”
In terms of sexual assault Paarl East ranked at 28th place nationally and 13th place in the Western Cape. For common assault Paarl East ranked at 28th place nationally and ninth place provincially.
Paarl Police Station took 29th place in the property-related crime category nationally and fifth place provincially. In the shoplifting category Paarl stands at 18th place nationally and fourth place provincially.
In the theft-from-a-motor-vehicle category Paarl ranked at 13th place nationally and fifth provincially. In the burglary at non-residential premises category Paarl ranked in seventh place nationally and 1st place in the Western Cape.
In the arson category Wellington ranked at 26th place nationally and fifth place provincially.
Cele also added it is the first time since the start of the Covid-19 outbreak in 2020 that there is a decline in the murder rate of the country in a single quarter.
A total of 6 228 murders, which includes 1 188 women and children, were recorded between April and June this year. This is 196 fewer murders than the same time last year.
