A national survey conducted in late 2000 reveals how feelings of safety are influenced by where people live, their race, age, and wealth — and by perceptions about the risk of crime, rather than by facts.

Virtually safe
Exposure to risk on the internet

There is increasing concern about the extent to which e-mail, e-commerce, and internet surfing expose users to risk. To understand the nature of the risk, it is important to grasp a few basics about the way in which electronic communication happens on the internet.

Hacking away:
Computer crime and the common law

The Law Commission is trying to ensure that rapid technological innovation is matched by appropriate changes to the law. It is considering draft legislation to criminalise certain kinds of attack on computers and networks.

Policing the police:
SAPS members charged and convicted of crime

The success of the SAPS in its war against crime will be measured by its success in dealing with corrupt and criminal police officers. In the year 2000 over 14 600 cases involving the police were investigated.

Commuter safety on track
Rail transport and private security companies

Our public transport system offers little protection from crime and violence. Although private security companies have been employed in an attempt to address the problem, the capacity of their security officers to protect commuters is limited. Will the new Security Industry Regulation Bill enhance commuter safety?

Taking action:
Government’s crime-fighting priorities for 2001

The justice, crime prevention and security cluster priorities for 2001 were recently announced by minister Steve Tshwete. These priorities are ambitious and focus almost entirely on improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the criminal justice system. The assumption is that such improvements will deter offenders and therefore reduce the incidence of crime.