THE 2012-2013 crime statistics are apparently wrong and misleading, and National Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega’s reassurances about the police winning the war against crime are said to be false.
Security experts say murder, attempted murder and sexual offences have increased more than the police claimed in September.
Yesterday, the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) revealed there were major errors in the stats.
The institute’s Gareth Newham said the errors were glaring.
“For the first time since 1994, the crime ratios released by the SAPS can be proved to be statistically incorrect,” said Newham.
“There has been evidence of statistics being manipulated at some police stations, but not enough to have a effect on national crime figures.”
He said this was the first time errors in the compilation of statistics had been detected at police national head office level.
However, police yesterday denied the claim saying their stats were correct.
The ISS called for an independent inquiry into the matter.
“The effect of this miscalculation is that it downplays the extent to which certain serious violent crime categories are rising, while exaggerating those categories that are decreasing.
Institute says police crime stats are wrong and misleading public
Security experts say murder, attempted murder and sexual offences have increased more than the police claimed in September.
Yesterday, the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) revealed there were major errors in the stats.
The institute’s Gareth Newham said the errors were glaring.
“For the first time since 1994, the crime ratios released by the SAPS can be proved to be statistically incorrect,” said Newham.
“There has been evidence of statistics being manipulated at some police stations, but not enough to have a effect on national crime figures.”
He said this was the first time errors in the compilation of statistics had been detected at police national head office level.
However, police yesterday denied the claim saying their stats were correct.
The ISS called for an independent inquiry into the matter.
“The effect of this miscalculation is that it downplays the extent to which certain serious violent crime categories are rising, while exaggerating those categories that are decreasing.
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