Today, 1 November 2019, I joined the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Departments (JMPD) and the MMC for Public Safety, Cllr Michael Sun, as we released the September 2019 performance statistics as they pertain to crime, by-law enforcement and traffic infringements in the City of Johannesburg.
The presentation of the monthly JMPD performance statistics by the Chief of Police, David Tembe, ensures that the JMPD is able to hold itself accountable.
For over a year, the City of Johannesburg has committed to releasing the JMPD performance statistics. This commitment made to residents of Johannesburg so that we can keep them in our confidence on how the JMPD allocates its limited resources in order to combat crime and lawlessness.
The monthly statistics have also been to the benefit of our own members, who can reflect on progress made and are able to identify where more work is needed.
Drunk driving operations remain in full force as the number of arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol reached 1 033 across the regions compared to August’s record 1 101 arrests. Furthermore, the Accident Unit recorded 26 pedestrian and 11 driver fatalities on our roads in September 2019.
With the release of the September 2019’s statistics, the JMPD can now take a look at its performance statistics for the first quarter of the 2019/20 financial year. Considering this, the total number of arrests for drunken driving is at 2 924 for the quarter.
The JMPD has bolstered operations across the City and continue to allocate resources to areas like Lenasia where seven (7) land invasion operations were conducted.
The Special Patrol Unit, which recently received 40 additional high performance vehicles, was able to achieve a major increase in issued citations from 540 in August 2019 to 928 in September 2019.
The K9 Narcotics and Tactical Unit recovered an impressive 525 units of ammunition compared to 145 in August 2019.
The newly created Integrated Intelligence Operation Centre (IIOC) Unit, focusing on inner city crime through CCTV monitoring, has made 145 arrests for the first quarter. This unit has now also been tasked with responding to illegal dumping and has already impounded 32 vehicles. Fines of R10 000 each have been paid for 13 vehicles so far.
In terms of arrests for the Top 6 crime types across all regions, excluding drunk driving, the JMPD in September made:
- 24 for hijacked or stolen motor vehicles (35 in August)
- 14 for possession of unlicensed firearms (34 in August)
- 26 for common robbery (13 in August)
- 11 for assault (12 in August)
- 5 for stolen goods (11 in August)
- 7 for possession of drugs (10 in August)
I look forward to the introduction of 800 new JMPD officers, who have been undergoing training, before the end of the year. The remainder will join the JMPD at the beginning of next year.
With a strengthened force and a simple and clear objective to stop crime and enforce the law, the City of Johannesburg is turning the tide against crime. We need zero-tolerance policing, and to deal decisively with offenders. Restoring the rule of law must be a priority for all of us.
As MMC Sun highlighted today, we would like to encourage residents to support our JMPD officers who work hard to ensure their safety every day. It is shocking to see certain actions taken by the very people JMPD is meant to protect as was seen in a recent viral video clip where bystanders cheered as a JMPD officer was attacked. This culture must not be allowed to continue.
He further mentioned that “Our JMPD Offers are often ridiculed and insulted by some on social media and this kind of behaviour, too, degenerate our morale in building a united and safe society and must be condemned”.
Finally, I would like to thank each and every law enforcement officer within JMPD. You are appreciated and you have a huge role to play, and I thank you for doing so with pride.