Cops who rape on the rise

Criminologists have warned of a new "disturbing trend" - policemen who rape.

In the police watchdog's latest annual report, released yesterday, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate's acting executive director, Koekie Mbeki, said it was investigating 168 cases in which cops were accused of rape.

Mbeki said this figure was "substantially higher" than the 40 rape cases reported in the preceding financial year .

"It is a concern that officers face such serious charges," she said, attributing the increase of rape in police custody to a lack of "command and control".

Citing the current court case of a Randburg constable who was initially investigated for three alleged rapes but is now on trial for 17 counts of rape, Mbeki said: "There are standing orders to address rape but the implementation is inadequate."

Western Cape (37) and Gauteng (27) have the highest number of such rape cases.

Institute of Security Studies policing researcher Johan Burger said: "In the past you thought of police criminality as corruption, murder and armed robbery, not rape.

"These figures bring home that rape committed by police is a real threat."

DA MP Dianne Kohler Barnard said the numbers were "staggering" and "the police portfolio committee must urgently investigate".

The report also stated that 431 people had died as a result of police action this financial year, and 275 in police custody.

The document revealed a 37% increase in crimes by police - from 4923 cases in the 2011-2012 financial year to 6728 cases this latest financial year.

The majority of cases relate to assault (4137), the unlawful discharging of a firearm (676) and other criminal matters, including 539 cases of attempted murder.

The report said 42 people had died in domestic violence incidents involving police officers and 32 people were killed by officers allegedly driving negligently. There were 50 reported cases of police torture.

The number of deaths was highest in Gauteng (170) and KwaZulu-Natal (146).

Mbeki said 1088 cases were reported to the National Prosecuting Authority while 1040 were reported to police management for internal disciplinary procedures.

She said her directorate secured 57 criminal convictions.