Please enter your login details

You can also sign in with your Sowetan LIVE &
Business LIVE account details.
   Sign Up   Forgot password?

Sign in with:

 
Sat May 26 08:58:26 SAST 2012

South Africans choose armed response over police: report

Sapa | 20 January, 2012 08:543 Comments

Image by: Elvis Ntombela

People are increasingly relying more on armed response services than on the police to keep them safe, according to a report on Friday.

From 2005 to 2010 about 2000 new security companies had entered the market as a result of the drop in confidence in the police by home owners and businesses, the Beeld reported.

Dr Johan Burger, from the Institute of Security Studies, told the daily newspaper there was a need for armed response because of an increase in crimes targeting homes and businesses, such as robberies and hijackings.

However, the ideal situation was that security companies should work hand-in-hand with the police rather than replace them.

According to the SA Institute of Race Relations, 4600 security companies provided armed response service in 2005. This had increased to 7500 (61 percent) by 2010.

The number of security guards employed had increased by 236 percent over the same period, the Beeld reported.

To submit comments you must first

Join the discussion & Debate

South Africans choose armed response over police: report

For Commenters Consideration | Please stick to the subject matter

COMMENTS [3]

Smeegen

Posted 126 days ago
Avatar
And job creation is no longer a good thing...?

rrza

Posted 126 days ago
Avatar
What rubbish. As a prerequisite for household insurance we are forced to have armed response.
This does not mean we "choose" them or "rely" on them

AnotherTaxPayer

Posted 126 days ago
Avatar
At least the armed response get there in good time and don't transfer you from police station to police station, in order to get help and then end up asking you for petrol money or to collect an officer from the police station....
Yes these days you either need high connections with members of the ruling party or money in order to get the protection that should be a basic right to all citizens of SA.