Mrs. Cherita Morrison
Vaalrand Technicon
and
Prof. Herman Conradie
Department of Criminology
University of South Africa

1      Introduction

The South African Police Services were institutionalised on 1 April 1913. For the next eighty years, the South African Police played a primary role in upholding apartheid (Fourie 1998:166). The Police became a symbol of oppression for the greater part of the community as the strategy of the police was characterised by a strong emphasis on the military style of policing (Stevens & Yach 1995:2). New reforms, which had a major influence on the police, were introduced in the early 1990's. The outcome of the Democratic elections of 27 April 1994, created a demand for fundamental reassessment of policing in South Africa. This resulted in removing the top structure of the "deadwood" which meant replacing officials who resisted reform, with more enlightened managers. The next major reform was to create a police service instead of a police force (Fourie 1998:168).

A questionnaire was developed in order to establish whether these reforms had also taken place in the SAPS in the Vaalrand since 1994, with special reference to the incorporation of community policing and Community Police Forums. The questionnaire was divided into four sections. The first section of the questionnaire consisted of biographical data (questions 1-12). The next section contained the views of the respondents regarding community policing (questions 13-21). In the third section, questions concerned the reactions of the respondents to Community Police Forums (questions 22-27) and the final section, the participation of the community in community policing, as seen by the respondents (questions 28-37). In addition, the last question, question 38, was unstructured, concerning any comments or remarks on any of the topics in the questionnaire. The comments of the respondent group concerning issues on community policing are highlighted in this chapter as well as in some of the other areas in the text. The questionnaires were numbered and the number in brackets next to the comment is the respondent's number. The respondents were anonymous and the comments are given verbatim.

2      Research Procedure

A research procedure was developed in accordance with the requirements set by different authors, for example, Lin (1976), Fink (1995) and McNeill (1992), Lynn (1996), Champion (1993), Mouton & Marais (1990). The objectives of the research are the reasons for doing the survey. A social survey is a method used for obtaining large amounts of data from a large number of people in a relatively short time. This is usually done in a statistical form (McNeill 1992: 19) Surveys are done to describe, compare as well as predict knowledge, attitudes and behaviour (Fink 1995:4). For the purposes of this study the descriptive method was used to describe the phenomenon of community policing in the Vaalrand. This study required a representative sample. The research procedures as stipulated for a descriptive study were followed. After the literature study was done, a questionnaire was drawn up. According to Sharp and Howard (1996: 145), questionnaires have become a common method of gathering information. The questionnaire consists mostly of 'closed' or structured questions and a few 'open' or unstructured questions.

During the time of the research, there were 12 police stations in the Vaalrand: the Barrage, De Deur, Ennerdale, Evaton, Kliprivier, Lenasia South, Meyerton, Orange Farms, Sebokeng, Sharpeville, Vereeniging and Vanderbijlpark. When this study was conducted, there were 2 327 active police members and 316 civilians working at these stations. Some of the stations are smaller than others, for example Orange Farms and De Deur are small police stations and others larger, for example Vanderbijlpark and Vereeniging. This was taken into account when the questionnaires were distributed amongst the various police stations. For this research, a random sample of policemen was selected to fill in the questionnaires from the 12 police stations in the Vaal Triangle during December 1997 and January 1998. There was no discrimination regarding race or sex in the sample. The completed questionnaires were returned during January 1998. Of the 400 questionnaires distributed, 316 were returned, of which 12 were spoiled or not properly completed and 304 were used. The data from the 304 questionnaires has been tabulated and analysed for this research.

3     Biographical Data of the Respondents

The following biographical data as derived from the questionnaires:

The vast majority, namely 228 (75%) of the respondents were male and only 76 (25%) were female. Of these, 204 (67,1%) indicated that they were married during the time of the researc, 79 (26%) were unmarried and 16 (5,3%) were divorced. There were only six (2,0%) between 18 and 21 years of age who participated in the research. The respondents from the age groups between 22 and 33 years of age, comprised 64,5 percent of the respondents. Another 58 (19,1%) were between 34 and 37 years old and 22 (7,2%) between 38 and 40 years. Only 9 (3,0%) said they wre between 41 and 44 years old. Only 6 (2%) were between 49 and over 55 years of age.

Regarding home language, the biggest group were Afrikaans speaking, namely 124 (40,8%). The group which follows them, are the Sesotho group with 107 (35,2%). There were also 15 (4,9%) who indicated their home language as Xhosa and 23 (7,6%) were Zulu speaking.

Concering their educational qualifications, about half of them (49,7%) had had passed matric. Fivty six (18,4%) held diplomas and 20 (6,6%) degrees. The rest of the respondents said their qualifications were between under grade 7 up to grade 11. 271 (89.1%) Respondents worked at the stations whilst the rest, that is, 33 (10,9%) worked at Head Quarters. The majority, namely 152 (50%) were of the rank of Sergeant, 53 (17,4%) were Constables, 39 (12,8%) were Inspectors and 21 (6,9%) were Captains during the time of the research. Seven (2,3%) were Superintendents, 16 (5,3%) were civilians and the rest were Assistant Constables , Under Sergeants, and Assistant Sergeants. The respondents indicated that 20 percent of them were involved with criminal investigation word, and a llittle more than 23 percent with crime prevention.

4     Definition of Concepts

For the purposes of this report, the following meanings will be attached to the indicated key concepts:

Community Policing

Although community policing is on the National agenda, there is some confusion concerning the actual meaning of the term as Marks (1996:9) states, "…. people are vague to what this actually means."

According to Adams (1994:894) community policing refers to "… a shift from a military-inspired approach to fighting crime to one that relies on forming partnerships with constituents." The prime objective of the police is to fight crime. According to Stipak, (1994:115) "Community policing is a management strategy that promotes the joint responsibility of citizens and the police for community safety, through working partnerships and interpersonal contact." Van Rooyen (sj: 20) sees community policing as a "… philosophy and strategy which is based on a partnership between the community and the police to find creative solutions for contemporary community problems, crime and other related matters." To Mastrofski, Worden and Snipes (1995:540) community policing means "… making the police more co-operative with those who are not police." According to SAPS policy, "community policing is a philosophy that guides police management styles and operational strategies and emphasises the establishment of police-community partnerships and a problem solving approach responsive to the needs of the community" (Reyneke 1997:12).

Stated briefly, the police and the community should become more accessible to each other and strive to bridge the gap that traditional policing, as practised in South Africa, has caused. The result will be a partnership founded in mutual trust and respect. However, as partnerships are never easy to sustain, recognition must be given to the need for changes to take place, both in attitudes and procedures of the professional service within the community. Community policing will deliver a new set of policing services and a new approach to crime prevention techniques and control.

For the purposes of this research, the concepts community policing will be utilised in all the above-mentioned ways.

Community Police Forums

The Community Police Forum is a group of people from the police as well as different sectors and interest groups from the community that meet to discuss problems emanating from their communities (James 1998:7).

What is meant with the concepts Community Policing Forums, are linked to the appropriate Act in this regard. According to Act No. 68, 1995, Chapter 7 Section 18, the following should be maintained:

"(1) The Service shall, in order to achieve the objects contemplated in section 215 of the Constitution, liase with the community through community police forums and area and provincial community police boards, in accordance with sections 19, 20 and 21, with a view to -

(a) establishing and maintaining a partnership between the community and the service;

(b) promoting communication between the Service and the community;

(c) promoting the co-operation between the Service and the community in fulfilling the needs of the community regarding policing;

(d) improving the rendering of police services to the community at national, provincial, area and local levels;

(e) improving transparency in the Service and accountability of the Service to the community; and

(f) promoting joint problem identification and problem-solving by the Service and the community

(2) This Chapter shall not preclude liaison by the Service with the community by means other than through community police forums and boards" (Government Gazette, 4 October 1995).

Van Rooyen (sj: 41) states that CPFs can promote the accountability of the Police Service to local communities, monitor the effectiveness of the Service, as well as evaluate the provision of the Police Services. No executive powers have been given to Community police forums. They can however advise, serve and evaluate as monitoring mechanisms. (Van Rooyen sj: 43).

5     Views regarding Community Policing

The main objective of this research was to describe the phenomenon of community policing in the Vaalrand. Reformulated in more detail: To describe to what extent community policing has been incorporated in the South African Police Service in the Vaalrand and to establish whether the police officials know what community policing is and to what extent they support the policy of community policing.

In Britain for example, community consultative forums have been established on a non-statutory basis. In Canada, the Royal Canadian Police engage in delivering community police services under contract to all the Provinces. In America, community policing has also been implemented in many police departments.

What follows, concerns the attitudes, knowledge and opinions of active police officials with regard to selected elements of community policing, relevant in the Vaalrand. When and where applicable the results of the relevant hypotheses testing will be highlighted.

Questions on the views of the respondents include the following: The concept of community policing, the discussion of popular topics, role of police in community policing, ranks involved in community policing, ways of police involvement, leaders, requirements of leaders and telephone etiquette.

6     Views regarding the concept "Community Policing"

Different meanings are attached to the term "community policing", but according to Adams (1994: 894), community policing refers to a "... shift from a military-inspired approach to fighting crime to one that relies on forming partnerships with constituents". Jagwanth (1994: 175) states, that in order to be effective, community policing must be defined as essentially a flexible strategy, aimed towards the development of better policing. However, this does not preclude the development of self-policing as an essential part of community policing.

According to Table 1, asa much as 50,3 percent of the respondents stated that "community policing" means that the police and the community should form a partnership. One hundred and seventeen (38,5%) of the respondents felt that "community policing" means that the police and the community should work together. The other figures indicate that 7,6 percent of the respondents felt that the community should work harder to help solve crime and 3,6 percent of the respondents felt that the pro-active approach refers most to "community policing".

A few of the comments the respondents made in the open questions can also be related to some of these issues. These are tabulated in two columns below, one regarding the relationship between the police and the community, and the other one regarding the role of the police as such, as follows:

Furthermore, in the context that the community should work harder to help solve crime, the following respondents said that: "The community does not want to furnish the police with information. That is a very big problem for the police to continue with their investigations (194)." Another respondent said that: "There are many crimes in the area where I work. Without [the] police and community they can't stop (242)". Other respondents' remarks were that: "I [think] that the public must work hand to hand (sic) with police to prevent crime and the public must stop to give police wrong information or false information (250). The community must work together with the police to prevent crime and must always give information (292). More community involvement in crime prevention. Crime awareness campaigns should be carried out in the sense of educating the community in general about crime (295). Regular consultation with the community must be promoted and advise the community with crime statistics" (182).

Based on the above, the following can be deducted: Only 50,3 percent of the respondents knew the true meaning of Community Policing as it is defined by the relevant law. According to the respondents, there is a lack of working together between the police and the communities they serve. There are (still) negative feelings between the police and the communities. In Britain, for example, a partnership approach was developed, because it was realised that the police service could not be held solely responsible the safety of the community or for tackling crime (Stevens & Yach 1995: 70). In Canada, the communities that are part of the contractual agreements are active partners in the crime prevention programmes and operational support (Contract Policing 1995:1)

Regarding the meaning of the concept "community policing", there were statistical significant differences between the police officials who lived in different residential areas. Fifty of the eighty two respondents who resided in Vereeniging, which is a predominantly White residential area, indicated that community policing refers to the partnership approach (16,45%), whilst forty eight of seventy five police officials who resided in Sebokeng, which is a predominantly Black residential area, preferred the concept that community policing refers to the police and the community working together (15,79%).

The statistically high significance of these differences can be attributed to the deep-rooted differences in the so-called Black and White areas. These were even further enhanced when cross-tabulations were generated between the areas where the police officials themselves were stationed during the time of the research. The data is reflected below.

Because it was a key element of the research to determine the views of the responding police officials regarding the true meaning of the concept Community Policing, another cross-tabulation was generated. This time between those working at police stations and those respondents who worked at the Headquarters of the Police in the Vaalrand.

It is clear that the true meaning of the concept "community policing" was well entrenched at the level of Headquarters during the time of the research and less so at Station level. At Headquarters, 27 of the 33 respondents, (8,88% of 10,86% of respondents) refer to community policing as being the "partnership approach" whereas only 126 of the 271 (41,45% of 89,14%) respondents from the Stations referred to the "partnership approach" as the true meaning of community policing.

As indicated by the Chi-square readings and probability of 0,002, this finding is statistically speaking, highly significant. This indicates that although those respondents, who worked at Station level agreed with those from Headquarters about the true meaning of community policing, the respondents at Station level were not so strongly convinced about this fact. One can explain this phenomenon against the following background: Instructions and information which are passed on from National Headquarters always reach police officials working at Headquarters first and therefore they are better informed about the policies and viewpoints in the SAPS. This means that they will always feel stronger about the "partnership approach", because of their firsthand knowledge. By the time the message reaches Station level, the message has become much dimmer.

Further statistical significant differences also occurred regarding the number of years the respondents were working at the Station or at Headquarters, in regard to their answers on their choice of what best refers to the concept "community policing".

This table shows clearly that those respondents who worked longer for SAPS seem to be less informed about the true meaning of community policing: the longer they worked, the less they chose the partnership approach. As indicated by the Chi-square readings and probability of 0,002, this finding is statistically speaking, highly significant. This can be explained against the background of the fact that those who worked more years, could be more "set in their ways" of policing styles and those respondents who worked less years, were "more informed" because they have more recently received the new(er) training. This statement should, however be qualified, because all police officials were informed about the concept of community policing through formal directives and the press.

7     The Role of Police in Community Policing

7.1     Possible Roles

There are numerous possible roles that the police can assume in community policing and the respondents were asked their opinions on the following six different possibilities, i.e.
 
 

From table 6 we deduct that just over fifty three percent of respondents stated that the role of the police in the community was one of partnership, followed by problem-solving (19,7%) and then exchanging information with the community (11,3%). Only a very small percentage of the respondents indicated that the police should not be involved with the community (5,3%), which generates a feeling that the police want to work with the community.

7.2     Ranks Involved

In the extensive literature study, I did not come across specific officers who had been delegated to be involved in community policing. In Britain they mention community police officers involved with community policing. In Canada it is mentioned that the Royal Canadian Police engage in the delivery of community police services and specifically in Portland, U.S.A., they mention that all police personnel are involved in community policing. As there seemed to be a gap in this particular section of the literature in South Africa, it was decided to include the following table in the research:

Only twenty six percent of the respondents stated that everybody was involved in community policing at the station. Following close on this, Sergeants (22,4%) were mostly involved with community policing, whereas eleven percent did not know who was involved with eight percent responding that it was the Captains. It is clear, that more Directors are involved in community policing (4,6%), than Commissioners (1,0%). The Sergeants will be more involved at the grassroots level, whereas the Directors more at the communication level.

According to Table 7, there is a marked difference between the responses of the police officials working at the Stations and those working at Headquarters. At the Stations, twenty three percent of the respondents indicated that everybody was involved with community policing and at Headquarters the first option was also that everybody was involved with community policing. Hereafter, whereas the respondents from the Stations indicated that Sergeants were the second most involved (21,05%) in community policing, the respondents from Headquarters indicated that their Superintendents were the second most involved (1,97%). At the Stations, nearly eleven percent of the respondents admitted to not knowing who was the most involved in community policing. According to the respondents from Headquarters, the Commissioner, the Superintendent and the Captains were equally involved (0,33%) with Constables and Civilians not at all. Captains, Sergeants and Inspectors are more directly involved with community policing than the other ranks. Although the personnel at HQ are more informed about community policing, the captains, sergeants and Inspectors work more with the community at station level. Thus, though it seems that personnel at station level is less informed about community policing, they are more involved with community policing. This reading (0,046), is approaching statistical significance at the 95 percent level and should be researched further.

7.3     Ways of Police Involvement

It is recognised in all the countries that there is a need to move towards community policing. However, it is apparent that the same methods will not necessarily work for every country, which is why this question was included in the research to establish which is the best way for the SAPS in the Vaalrand.

From this table it is clear that most of the respondents felt that the Police should be involved with community policing (93,7%). This is a very positive attitude of the respondents. Nearly forty percent felt that to attend meetings should be the first priority of involvement with community policing. This means more direct involvement with members of the community as well as more personal contact. Just over thirty percent of the respondents felt that the priorities of the of the CPF should be determined, but working closely with private security firms did however not seem a popular choice (10,5%).

Here are some of the comments of the respondents concerning the above-mentioned:
 

MEETINGS	OTHER COMMENTS
We are also afraid to attend meetings because we can be attacked there by our own community and then be killed and murdered (090)	Regarding the question of the CPF, I believe that workshops should be made for members of the community. They must know the aim of forming a CPF (197)
I think the management should have more meetings with the members. Lack of communication. Members are not up to date about many changes in the service (251)	Regular meetings through CPF where the crime in the area concerned will be discussed and action taken against crime (295)

From the above-mentioned it seems as if the respondents would like to attend more meetings with management because a lack of communication exists and there is a feeling that the priorities of CPF should also be determined.

Respondents from Barrage, De Deur, Evaton, Lenasia South, Orange Farms, Sharpeville, and Vanderbijlpark felt that to attend meetings was the most important way to get involved with community policing. Respondents from Ennerdale, Sebokeng and Vereeniging however, felt that to determine the priorities of the CPF was more important. Most of the respondents stationed at Klipriver, indicated that the police should not get involved in community policing (1,64%) and the respondents stationed at Meyerton, felt that it is important for the police to assist with research (1,97%) in order to be involved with community policing. From the above we observe, that respondents stationed at predominantly Black, White and Indian areas, felt that to become more involved with community policing, meetings should be held between members of the police and members of the public. Respondents from predominantly Black, White and Indian areas also felt the priorities of the CPF should be determined. As indicated by the Chi-square readings and probability of 0,000, these finding are statistically speaking, highly significant, indicating highly heterogeneous views amongst the respondents.

7.4     Leaders

In the literature study, no information was found concerning who the specific leaders in community policing in the communities are and therefore it was decided to include the next question.

There was a positive response to be equal partners in community policing (50,3%). The respondents who favoured the police taking the leading role in community policing was just over fifteen percent, compared to the community taking the leading role, just over 10 percent. However, nearly a quarter of all the respondents felt quite strongly about "depending on circumstances".

No statistical significant differences were registered, which means that the sampled respondents maintained a homogenous view with regard to who should take the leading role in community policing.

7.5     Involvement in Community Policing

It was important to note how the respondents felt about their involvement with the community, who else should be involved, and also to establish how actively the respondents were involved in community policing when the research was done. A question was also included concerning their feelings about the requirements for these people involved with community policing.

Less than fifty percent of the respondents working for the South African Police Service were actively involved in community policing in the Vaalrand, which points to a negative connotation. Of the respondents, 12,5 percent were also unsure whether they were actively involved in community policing or not. For community policing to work, not even to mention an equal partnership, more members of the SAPS will have to become involved, and tt is to be hoped that this will be the case for the future.

An opportunity was provided to review women's involvement in policing, with the new focus on community policing in South Africa. The Police Service tends to be male dominated, according to Stevens and Yach (1995:31) who stated that in 1995, just over 10% of the Police service consisted of women.

Male police officials were significantly more involved with community policing (37,17%), compared to no involvement (27,3%). With their female counterparts however, we find the exact opposite, namely that only about 8% were involved, compared to nearly 15% who were not involved. The male respondents who were unsure about being involved in community policing totalled nearly eleven percent and those of their female counterparts, just over two percent. This indicates that the female respondents are not utilised in community policing yet and are still only used mostly for administrative duties in the SAPS in the Vaalrand.

From Table 12 it is clear that the majority of respondents agree that all of the people in society should be involved in community policing (55,3%). Of these, the leaders in the community seems to be the most important choice, at 13,2 percent, then the man in the street, 9,2 percent and then policemen, 7,6 percent. Politicians, youth leaders, social workers and women's organisations were seen as not so important. Overall, these figures create a positive feeling, that in general feeling everybody should be involved in community policing. In Britain, the government introduced community-oriented policing (COP) to try and stem the rising tide of crime.

From the unstructured questions in the questionnaire the following comments from the respondents were recorded (verbatim) on the role of Government (Politicians) and Courts:
 

Government	Courts
The government must initiate a program in training members to cling to new changes in community policing in order to regulate the irregularities, i.e. norms and values of community oriented policing (147).	Better relationship between courts and public as it is in police and public. Example: Formation of launch of the called: Justice community Forum abbreviated as JCV (009).
As die staat meer omgee vir die polisiebeampte sal die polisiebeampte meer omgee vir die gemeenskap (157).
Government should look forward to enrolling reservists to be permanent members so that they train something (219).

From the above-mentioned, the following can be deducted:

Training programs should be established for role-players and there should be a better co-operation between the government and the police. Politicians should allow the police the freedom to do their work properly. Better co-operation between courts and the public should be encouraged.

From the above-mentioned, we deduct that "concern for the safety of the community" should be the top priority for the people involved with community policing (42,1%). Thereafter, "all of the above" mentioned, were found to be important (37,8%). Fear of crime did not rate high at all (4,6%) and neither did the administrative abilities of the citizens (1,3%). The overall feeling is that all the people of the community should play a part in community policing.

The married respondents were convinced that the requirement of the persons involved with community policing should be "concern for the safety of the community" (33,88%) and thereafter, all the requirements mentioned (20,07%). On the other hand, the unmarried respondents as well as the divorced respondents felt that all the requirements were of equal importance, 41 (13,49%) and 10 (3.29%) respectively. This could be an indication that the married respondents are more concerned for the safety of their children in the community and therefore the strong feelings on this issue.

8     Conclusion

The transition of the South African Police Services has clearly not yet touch base in the Vaalrand. Only half of them know what community policing entails, namely that the police and the community form a partnership, and community policing is the backbone of the new direction for policing. The fact that those working at headquarters seemed more informed about it, is cause for concern - because community policing should be well known and implemented by the grassroots police officials. There also were clear differences between the White and Black area police officers regarding views on community policing: the Whiter areas seemed more informed about the concept of community policing than the Black areas. The fact that those police officials who have been working longer in the SAPS seemed less informed about community policing may be an indication why the transformation process will be continuing for some time. The fact that less than half (45,1%) were according to themselves at the time of the research, involved with community policing does not seem to be a good sighn after six years of propagating it. Much work lies ahead.

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