Message From The Divisional Commissioner: Detective Service:
J F De Beer

Proficient policing is an alliance between the people of South Africa, government, the media and the police. It's about all individuals in South Africa accepting responsibility for their part in shining the spotlight on criminals and reducing crime and improving community safety.

All the Crime Stopper programmes world-wide are now revolting against criminals . . . a Crime Stop revolution such as South Africa has never seen. We are no longer divided by personalities - we are united by a purpose. Our purpose is a safe and secure South Africa through justice.

Community safety and security is a partnership based upon interdependence. This is particularly so in regard to crime prevention and detection. The police cannot ever be omnipresent. Criminals bargain on this, and some communities are consequently ruled by violence and fear. The only way to make criminals back-off is to expose them for what they are - they have no regard for the lives of our children. Let’s turn the tide together and let the criminals become the hunted and not the hunters.

By presenting a comfortable and painless alternative through anonymity and the possibility of rewards to callers, Crime Stop has removed all excuses to remain a victim of intimidation. As Ian McKeithen said “Decision is a sharp knife that cuts clean and straight. Indecision is a dull one that hacks and tears and leaves ragged edges behind”.

Our Crime Stop programme in South Africa is one of the strongest and most effective in the world. We must continue to work in such partnerships to prevent and detect crime, for crime prevention really is everyone's business.

Please unite and let us instil the fear where it belongs - in the minds and hearts of criminals. Lets turn the tide together.

You’re driving along a road on your way from work, you stop at a traffic light and suddenly there are people around you threatening. You’re in shock, but fully aware of the gun or knife in the perpetrators hand, images of your loved one’s flash through your mind. You’re pulled out of your vehicle, they push you to the ground and before you can react, they speed away.

You’re on your way home and all you can think about is having a meal, a bath and getting a good night’s sleep. Suddenly you hear a crash, as you turn toward the sound; a hand reaches into your vehicle and grabs your handbag, laptop & cell. You’re so shocked you cannot react and before you can do anything, they’re gone.

You’re in your home, the children have gone to school, your spouse has left for work and so you sit down to have your first coffee.
Browsing through the newspaper, catching your breath after the early morning rush. You hear a noise, you get up to investigate and without warning, you feel someone grab you.

Since that unfortunate incident, you’re unable to sleep, you cry all the time, your life has changed dramatically..…You live in fear.

Bewildered you look around and you know, your worse nightmare has begun.
There are three strangers in your home, threatening you with guns or knives. They ask for money, they start tearing your home apart,
searching through every nook and cranny.
You give them all they want, but they still hurt you. You’re helpless to stop them, you beg and plead, but your pleas fall on deaf ears.

They leave after what seems like hours, you call your spouse, the police and run to the neighbors for help.
They’re gone and although they’ve taken everything, you’re alive and you thank God.