Cape Town - Minister of Police Nathi Mthethwa says the police are working on new measures to enhance crime combating efforts in the country.
Some of these measures include a focus on the role of intelligence, finalising amendments to the Criminal Procedure Act, revamping the Criminal Justice System and partnering with communities.
Releasing 2008/2009 crime statistics on Tuesday in Cape Town, the minister said intelligence had a crucial role to play and this component was currently being revitalized.
"Part of this revitalisation includes ensuring the integration of intelligence into all aspects of policing and this will be anchored through the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) or the Hawks."
Both Departments of Police and Justice and Constitutional Development are in the last stages of finalising the amendments to Section 49 of the Criminal Procedure Act, which will be one of the key measures to be used to fight crime.
Mthethwa said it was hoped that this piece of legislation would go before Parliament during the fourth session of this year.
These changes to the law were being made in order to strengthen the hand of the police in dealing with violent criminals, but he reiterated that the amendments would not mean that police had a license to kill.
To ensure a far better integration of the different departmental roleplayers in the criminal justice environment, government has focused its attention on the revamping of the Criminal Justice System.
Work has also begun on increasing the number of detectives, with a focus on intensified and improved training.
Meanwhile, Cabinet recently agreed that, at least until 2010, the South African National Defence Force will be re-engaged in securing the country's borderlines.
"Management and control of some of our borders is a major challenge. The Justice Crime Prevention and Security Cluster is developing a comprehensive approach and plan to deal with transnational organized crime," he said.
