open society foundation for south africa

Open Society Foundation for South Africa

Towards an understanding of citizen perceptions and experiences of police

with regards to corruption

Andrew FaullCrime & Justice Programme Institute for Security Studies

2nd December 2010

ObjectiveTo understand how people from different communities experienced police corruption and its effect on civilian perceptions of, and trust in police.

• HSRC Social Attitudes Survey, 2007:- 39% of respondents “trust” or “strongly trust” the police (so ± 60% don’t)

• Afrobarometer, 2008:- 46% of respondents believed “all” or “most” police to be corrupt- 54% trusted police “just a little” or “not at all”

• ISS Victim of Crime Survey, 2007:- “traffic fines” and “policing” are the spheres of government in which

bribes are most often requested


Methodology - 1• 15 focus groups• 5 each in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban• Inner city, suburb, formal township, informal township, rural area• 148 participants (50% men/women)

Recruitment Criteria:• Older than 18• Contact with police in previous year• 50% of each group to have experienced something they described as police corruption (of the 156 recruited, 127 believed they’d had such an experience)


Methodology - 21. Describe your ideal police official2. How are police officials different from this ideal?3. Where would you turn if you had a problem with the police?4. Do you trust the police generally?

a) Why/ why not?b) What would make you trust the police more?

5. What was your most recent experience with the police?6. Can you give an example that you personally know of where someone gave a

police official something (such as money or a gift) in order to get assistance from the police official?

7. What do you think police corruption is?8. Have you or anyone you know ever experienced police corruption?

a) What happened? b) Did you do anything about it?

9. What would you like the government to do to stop corruption in the police?


Notions of “ideal police”In describing their ideal police official/organisation, participants described police who were:

• Competent, providing hassle free service• Punctual• Educated & trained• Friendly & approachable• Patient & respectful

(Also: objective, committed, fit, honest, well resourced)

Notably, minimal reference made to “crime fighting”


“Ideal” versus the SAPSIn describing SAPS officials, the majority of responses described police as:• Rendering a poor service to clients • Involved in corrupt or criminal deeds on a regular basis • Self-interested rather than committed to their jobs

Other descriptions were of police as:• Biased in the their work • Often drunk• Uneducated • Sexually harassing women(Also: violent with civilians, lacking respect & patience, unfriendly, poor drivers, under resourced)

Perception of respect and service possibly more important than outcome of complaint


Trust in police Almost none of of the participants said they trusted police

Almost all reasons offered for not trusting police centred around four themes:

•Experiences of poor or unprofessional service •Experiences of police crime or corruption •Experiences of police sexual harassment•Perceptions of police as corrupt

Also: Perceptions that police commit crime, citizen misunderstanding of law/police function leading to lack of trust , experience of abuse by police or CPF patrollers , perceptions that police rape and steal , perceptions of police as self-serving, perceptions of police as drunks and drug users


Improving trust in policeDescribing what would make them trust police more, participants said police should:

• do their jobs “properly” and provide a consistent service• refrain from corruption• be monitored by an independent body• communicate better in person and with communities• require more than grade 12 to be hired• communities should be consulted for input when vetting new recruits

Note: In giving reasons for lack of trust in police some participants described legitimate police action suggesting their should be better communication with the public on police procedures


Experience of police crime - 1• Petty extortion/bribery:

o Most such incidents involved traffic or drinking related extortion by police

• Attempted bribery o Three refused, but in two instances police got quite abusive

• Serious extortion/bribery:o Closing cases for the accused, protection money for an illegal shebeen


Experience of police crime - 2

• Theft o Theft from a corpse, theft of possessions in police custody, etc.

• Robbery o Robbing a foreign national, robbing civilians being searched, etc.

• Other illegal and unprofessional conducto Sexual intimidation and harassment, torture, refusal to open dockets, etc.


Knowledge of oversight/complaints structures• Very poor knowledge of oversight infrastructures in SA

• Only one respondent had tried to report their experience of corruption, and this was unsuccessful.

• Most common suggestion was to report to SAPS or Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD), though neither avenue was trusted.

• Lawyers also seen as an avenue of complaint though few said they could afford this.

The reality is that despite the appearance of impressive police oversight architecture in South Africa, it can be extremely difficult for civilians to find recourse using these channels. Perhaps people don’t know about them because they’re not worth knowing about.


Suggestions for governmentAsked what government should do to reduce police corruption, answers centred around these themes:

•Arrest and make examples of police involved in criminal and corrupt activities•Improve the salaries and working conditions for police•Introduce hotlines and reporting centres independent of the SAPS•Introduce technology to monitor police•Educate the public on the role of the police•Depoliticise the position of chief of police


Data in context• 1995, South African Police Service formed, embracing a paradigm of human rights and service oriented policing. Military ranks abandoned for civilian titles.

• Post-1994 perceptions of rising crime (though declining), increased feelings of insecurity

• 1999, Police Minister Tshwete introduced “war on crime” rhetoric, remains today

• 2001 onwards, “Selebi trials” and performance measurement based on reductions in reported crime

• SAPS budget more than doubled since 2003

• 2008, Deputy Minister Shabangu says “Shoot the bastards” • 2010, military ranks readopted, SAPS referred to as a “force”, touted as an attempt to improve discipline, and because “wars are led by commanders”, inferring that a “forceful” approach to crime would be more effective and win more public support.


Summary• Despite overall reductions in crime, trust in, and perceptions of police remain fairly negative. • Most participants in this study believed they had experienced corruption• Numerous experiences of corruption, crime and abuse involving police• Participants expressed very low levels of trust in police, largely motivated by negative experiences• Participants had minimal knowledge of complaints structure, with little faith in those they did know of• “Ideal police” were described as motivated, competent and resourced officials who treated the public with respect – a far cry from soldiers “waging war” on crime This data serves as a call for the creation of a more professional police service that puts service to the people ahead of a “tough on crime”, statistic-reduction based approach to policing.


Thank [email protected]


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