Monograph 55: The Role of Firearms in Crime in South Africa A Detailed Analysis of Police Dockets, By Ettienne Hennop, Jakkie Potgiete
Police dockets provide one of
the few comprehensive sources of information from which to draw a broad
range of data on firearm-related crimes. In this research, it was found
that docket analysis as a source was limited by the incomplete evidence
contained in police dockets. The challenge of the exercise became an
attempt to understand the nature of firearm-related crime in South
Africa, and to provide an acceptable conclusion of the debate on the
interpretation of data within these constraints and the interpretation
of data findings.
Firearm-related crime is increasing significantly in South
Africa. The analysis of 787 police dockets demonstrated that both legal
and illegal firearms are involved in firearm-related crime in South
Africa. For more in-depth information on specific firearm-related
crimes, summaries are provided in the second part of the monograph.
Robbery and theft cases are serious, since they result in a
significant number of legal firearms entering the illegal pool of
firearms. However, these police investigations usually do not result in
the firearm being recovered:
- The majority of armed robberies occurred
on business premises. Handguns are usually used in armed robberies, as
well as in hijacking incidents. However, marginally more people are
injured in hijackings than in armed robberies.
- Police detection of common
robberies is low and the police have few leads to follow due to the
element of surprise used by offenders when committing the crime.
Firearms were the most prevalent items stolen in common robberies. In
this sample, it was found that, for every ten incidents of common
robbery, eight firearms moved from legal ownership to the illegal pool.
- The theft of a firearm often occurs
as a result of inappropriate storage of firearms by victims. The
recovery rate of stolen firearms is low due to the lack of leads and
information on such firearms, as well as the low rates of reporting of
stolen firearms.
On the whole, firearm-related crime in
South Africa is not investigated satisfactorily. Comparatively speaking,
mostly murder and attempted murder cases are investigated. This is
strongly influenced by the higher proportion of leads in these crimes,
compared to other crimes:
- Firearms are the most significant tool
used to commit murder in South Africa. Police detection of murder is
high, as is the rate of conviction.
- Attempted murders are more
predominant in residential areas and most attempted murders occur after
hours or in the evenings. Significant proportions of attempted murders
are detected, and equally significant numbers of cases are withdrawn by
the state prosecutor.
In both the pointing of a firearm and the
discharging of a firearm in a built-up or public place, people are
injured, although this is not the intention of the crime:
- Incidents where a firearm is pointed are
usually reported to the police. Injury sometimes results from these
incidents with 21.2% of the victims being injured.
- The illegal discharge of a firearm
in a built-up area or public place can result in the injury of innocent
bystanders. It was found that 17.2% of victims were injured in these
crimes.
