A strategic perspective on the role of the police in combating crime.

Thesis (DTech. degree in Safety and Security Management)--Tshwane University of Technology, 2005.The research problem for this study, in a condensed form, is formulated as follows: The lack of clarity and understanding, in general, of how to combat crime effectively and of the police’s role in this regard, leads to unrealistic expectations of what the police are capable of and, consequently, to unfair blaming of the police for high levels of crime. Accordingly, the purpose of this study is to determine the role of the police in the combating of crime, viewed from a strategic perspective. The research approach was qualitative and the research method primarily a literature study. The overall research objective was comparative, interpretive and applicatory. For purposes of background, perspective and comparison the study included research with regard to the police and policing in the United States of America and the United Kingdom. This is followed by an analysis of policy development for the police and policing in South Africa, and the South African Police Service’s strategic and operational approaches to the combating of crime. vii