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The NPA’s role in Crime Prevention

The NPA’s role in Crime Prevention. Group 2 30 March 2007 By Paulin Mbecke (CSIR). Objectives and output of session. OBJECTIVES To explore how the NPA should contribute in Crime Prevention Initiatives To discuss the approach to and the viability of Community Prosecution in South Africa.

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The NPA’s role in Crime Prevention

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  1. The NPA’s role in Crime Prevention Group 2 30 March 2007 By Paulin Mbecke (CSIR)

  2. Objectives and output of session OBJECTIVES • To explore how the NPA should contribute in Crime Prevention Initiatives • To discuss the approach to and the viability of Community Prosecution in South Africa

  3. Objectives and output of session OUTCOMES OF THE SESSION • The issues, concerns and root causes • The proposed Plan of Action • The salient outputs required by the NPA

  4. Overview by project owner/presenter The owner gave an overview of the reasons why the NPA has decided to explore the role prosecutors could play in order to pro-actively deal with crime. • Prosecutions alone not helping NPA to achieve its objectives of reducing crime and increasing peoples’ feeling of safety and security. • In the transformation process prevention was identified as one of the outcomes of justice. • Community Court System and Restorative Justice as Crime Prevention Initiatives by NPA.

  5. Discussion Phase 1: Issues & Concerns • Involvement of social sector agencies in Crime Prevention • How successful are crimes prosecuted? • Prosecutors should understand what is happening at the ground level (be involved with the communities) • Education of stakeholders and sensitization of public on of the role of the prosecutors and the Community Court • Education of the prosecutors, e.g. justice outcomes. They don’t really understand the meaning of these outcomes and resources to use with regard to RJ, etc. • Migration – education of locals and foreigners about the expected behavior (lawfulness). People from outside contribute to crime and therefore must be part of crime prevention initiatives. The release of foreign perpetrators – some do not cross the borders, they come back • Community Prosecutors findings must be publicized

  6. Discussion Phase 1: Issues & Concerns (cont.) • NPA must draw close to traditional leaders, police stations and all stakeholders at national provincial and local levels • NPA must engage in land issues and also look at political interference at local level (get politicians’ buy-in). Thus NPA must play a more central role in Crime Prevention • How do we incorporate all the stakeholders? • Reduce workload of prosecutors to enable them to be more actively involved in Crime Prevention at community level • Joint training of Crime Prevention Police Officers and Prosecutors • Service delivery is poor because of lack of resources • Capacity and resources must be provided to solve problems related to Crime Prevention and Community Courts.

  7. Discussion Phase 1: Issues & Concerns (cont.) • Prosecutors should work closer to the communities to see what is happening on the ground and what are the problems within the different communities, seek solutions with all • Lack of demarcated areas, lot of dilapidated and unused buildings that are used by criminals – need for CPTED • Lack of integration of strategies. What is happening at national level, should be brought down to provincial and grass-route levels • Culpability of law-abiding citizens (e.g. Attitude of people and respect to others • Prosecutors need to be educated in other laws (social…) • Holiday courts also very important • NPA (Prosecutors) to work together with all stakeholders and communities to prevent crime.

  8. Discussion Phase 2: Diagnosis (root causes) • Lack of Education, Awareness and Communication Raising awareness Sensitizing communities Education of prosecutors/role players/public Communication with partners & communities

  9. Discussion Phase 2: Diagnosis (root causes) (cont.) • Lack of collaboration amongst Partners Alignment of initiatives Social and psycho-social issues Environmental Design

  10. Discussion Phase 3 Question 2 – proposed solutions/actions 1. Education, Awareness and Communication • Better understanding of all role players’ strategies • Establish a joint steering committee on education, awareness and communication • Develop a communication strategy • Training of Prosecutors & all stakeholders on Crime Prevention Initiatives • Educate the public on the process of the Criminal Justice System and Crime Prevention initiatives • Promote the use of Customer Satisfaction Form (compulsory)

  11. Discussion Phase 3 Question 2 – proposed solutions/actions 2.Collaborating with Partners • Undertake a Community Profile • Who are the role players and what are their resources • What Crime Prevention programs and projects role players are involved in (e.g. life skills, RJ processes…) • Establish local steering committee with representatives from all stakeholders under the leadership of the NPA • Good information sharing systems (use Communication Strategy) • Commitment and responsibility of representatives • Proper mandate from organisations • Recognition of complimentary roles of all role players • Agree on desired common outcomes & Intervention Plans • Understand what each expert / organization can contribute

  12. Thank You

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