SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE SERVICE

WESTERN CAPE

WESTERN CAPE GANG STRATEGY

OPERATION COMBAT

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CONTENTS

WESTERN CAPE GANG STRATEGY

OPERATIONAL FOCUS

DEFINE A GANG

CRIMINAL DEFINITION: POCA 121/1998

TYPE AND FEATURES OF GANGS

GANG SYSTEM

DRUGS, GANGS AND OTHER CRIMES

WESTERN CAPE GANG STRATEGY OBJECTIVES

STATISTICAL OVERVIEW: GANG RELATED MURDER/ATTEMPTED MURDER

INTERVENTION IN TERMS OF GANG STRATEGY/ EXECUTION

PILLARS 1- 4

DRUG VALUE CHAIN: RESPONSOBILITY MATRIX

NEXUS BETWEEN CRIME: CRIMINAL GROUPS AND GANGS

CHALLENGES

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THE WESTERN CAPE GOVERNMENT HAS A GANG STRATEGY KNOWN AS:

• Social Transformation, Gang Prevention, and Intervention Strategic Framework

(2008)

SAPS GANG STRATEGY EMANATES FROM THE GANG FRAMEWORK:

• SAPS Gang Strategy (2011)

SAPS OPERATIONALIZATION OF THE STRATEGY:

• Operational Combat

WESTERN CAPE GANG STRATEGY

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OPERATIONAL FOCUS

WC PROV. GOV: GANG FRAMEWORK (2008)

• Prov. Government led, of which SAPS is one of multiple Departments.

• (see pages 27-36)

OPERATIONAL FOCUS

The strategic framework takes a multi-agency and inter-sectoral approach, this includes

the establishment of a co-ordinating structure/forum to guide and monitor implementation of the strategy.

Aims to be responsive to risk factors & drivers- lead to formation and continuity of gangs in certain communities.

Takes a long term view, recognising that while it is essential to act in the immediate term, it is also essential to put programmes in place now that may only bear fruit in ten years time.

Strategic Framework recognises that both adults and children are engaged in gangs, most individuals join gangs while they are still children. (Purpose of prevention & intervention children and youth should be targeted).

Incorporates range of different law enforcement & suppression, prevention, early intervention, diversion and reintegration programmes.

Recognizes the need for a range of interventions to be targeted in areas with the most need (identified priority areas).

Community involvement in establishing programmes for that specific community is essential.

Interventions must include programmes that target the risk factors of families & communities as well as programmes that target the risk factors of the individual gang member.

SAPS WC GANG STRATEGY (2011)

• SAPS led Operational Activities and in

partnership.

OPERATIONAL FOCUS

Gang Criminal Investigations

Strategic Visible Policing Deployment

Community mobilisation towards

development

Focused Crime Information/Intelligence

Management

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DEFINE A GANG CRIMINAL DEFINITION: POCA 121/1998

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“...includes any formal or informal ongoing organisation, association, or

group of three or more persons which has one of its activities the

commission of one or more criminal offences, which has an identifiable

name or identifying sign or symbol, and whose members individually or

collectively engage in or have engaged in a pattern of criminal gang

activity...”

CRIMINAL DEFINITION: POCA 121/1998

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WESTERN CAPE GANG STRATEGY: OPERATION COMBAT

FEATURES

NAMED GANGS

• Mainly coloured

• Linked to prison gangs

• Sell drugs & liquor

• Cross generational

NON NAMED GANGS

• Mainly Africans

• Commit robberies

• Limited link to prison gangs

TYPES AND FEATURES: GANGS

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TYPE

Named Gangs

Non-Named Gangs

Prison Gangs

Foreigner’s Gangs

School Gangs

Township Gangs

GANG SYSTEM

HOUSEBREAKING

DRUG DEALING

BUSINESS

ENTERPRISER

GANG ACTIVITY

HOUSEBREAKING

THEFT

DRUG DEALING

ENFORCER

BUSINESS

ENTERPRISER

GANG ACTIVITY

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DRUGS, GANGS AND OTHER CRIME

ROBBERS

THIEVES

GANG

MEMBER

GANG

GROUPS

GENERAL RECREATION USER

USER

DRUG

DEALER

ADDICT

ONE

OPERATOR

DISTRIBUTOR

PRIVATE

CORPORATE

OPERATION

HOUSEBREAKINGS THEFT OF MOTOR VEHICLE

ROBBERS

THIEVES

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• Murder

• Att. Murder

• Abalone Poaching

Gangs

• Dealing

• Possession

Drugs • Business

Robberies

• Hijacking

• House Robberies

Trio Crimes

NEXUS BETWEEN CRIME: CRIMINAL GROUPS AND GANGS

ARRESTS FIREARMS POCA ACT SARS 10

Drug

Components

Drugs

Manufacturers

Storage /

Ware-housing

Main Entry routes (include

postal)

Distributors /

Wholesalers

Couriers

Sellers

Buyers / End users

CI

HAWKS

FORENSIC

CI

HAWKS

FORENSIC

CI

HAWKS

FLYING SQUAD

CI

HAWKS

BORDER POLICE CLUSTERS

FLYING SQUAD DOG UNITS

CI

CLUSTERS/STATIONS

FLYING SQUAD

CI

CLUSTERS/STATIONS

FLYING SQUAD

CI

HAWKS

FORENSIC

CI

HAWKS

CI

CLUSTERS

(SOP)

CLUSTERS/

STATIONS

FLYING SQUAD

UNITS

DRUG VALUE CHAIN: RESPONSIBILITY MATRIX

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WESTERN CAPE GANG STRATEGY OBJECTIVE

THE STRATEGY IS DESIGNED IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE 8 KEY OBJECTIVES: To dislodge and terminally weaken the capacity of the gangs to operate in

the selected communities.

To disorganise and fundamentally disable the criminal economy linked to the gangs.

To construct prosecution ready criminal case dockets against gangs/members implicated in specific criminal acts/incidents.

To construct a series of POCA Act cases for gangs - identified 15 gangs.

To disable the prison gang influence on the communities beyond prison.

To eliminate the propensity of criminal gangs to corrupt police officials.

To mobilize and organise communities against gangs and their criminal activities.

To ensure that visible policing is deployed in a manner that prevents gangs from operating/flourishing and ensures seizure of illegal drugs and illegal and or unauthorised firearms.

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INTELLIGENCE AND INVESTIGATIVE ,OPERATIONAL & VISIBLE

APPROACH:

• Disrupt; Dislodge; Disorganise

– TARGETTED FOCUS =

» FIREARMS SUPPLY

» DRUGS SUPPLY CHAIN

» 15 X GANGS

» GEOGRAPHICAL DEPLOYMENT IN DESIGNATED

AREAS

THREE PRONGED APPROACH

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INTERVENTION IN TERMS OF GANG STRATEGY /

EXECUTION

The emphasis was on developing a target focused approach under the gang

strategy against street and prison gangs, guided by the following pillars:

Gang Criminal Investigations

Strategic Visible Policing Deployment

Community mobilisation towards development

Focused Crime Information/Intelligence Management

Execution :

Visible Policing

Dedicated Investigation

Crime Intelligence

Deployment at Identified Gang Stations

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PILLARS 1- 4

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PILLAR ONE: GANG CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS

Centralisation of dockets against targets

Compilation of Threat files for identified targets

Monthly inspections of Target threat files

Periodic docket inspections by Provincial Head/Commander

Inspections by Cluster, Station and Branch Commanders

POCA focused investigations / specialised NPA focus

Bi-weekly monitoring and review meetings with NPA

Provincial, Cluster and Branch level specialisation in gang investigations

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1

PILLAR TWO: STRATEGIC VISIBLE POLICING DEPLOYMENT

Target driven operational planning at Station, Cluster and Provincial

level

Dedicated Gang Incident Response

Target focused disruptive and interception teams

Monitoring of productivity on Targets at Station, Cluster & Provincial

levels

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2

PILLAR THREE: COMMUNITY MOBILISATION TOWARDS DEVELOPMENT

Focused community mobilisation against identified

targets/areas

Social crime prevention programmes

Creation of broad mobilisation forums against gangsterism

and drugs at station level (e.g. CPF’s, NHW, Business Watch,

School Safety Programme)

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3

PILLAR FOUR: FOCUSED INFORMATION/INTELLIGENCE MANAGEMENT

Integrated information /Intelligence management capability for

Operation Combat established at Provincial level

Informant /Intelligence management through

Target focused :

Firearms Groups

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4

Drug

Components

Drugs

Manufacturers

Storage /

Ware-housing

Main Entry routes (include

postal)

Distributors /

Wholesalers

Couriers

Sellers

Buyers / End users

CI

HAWKS

FORENSIC

CI

HAWKS

FORENSIC

CI

HAWKS

FLYING SQUAD

CI

HAWKS

BORDER POLICE CLUSTERS

FLYING SQUAD DOG UNITS

CI

CLUSTERS/STATIONS

FLYING SQUAD

CI

CLUSTERS/STATIONS

FLYING SQUAD

CI

HAWKS

FORENSIC

CI

HAWKS

CI

CLUSTERS

(SOP)

CLUSTERS/

STATIONS

FLYING SQUAD

UNITS

DRUG VALUE CHAIN: RESPONSIBILITY MATRIX

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CHALLENGES

WESTERN CAPE GANG STRATEGY: OPERATION COMBAT

Very Limited implementation of WC government Gang Strategy

Non reporting mechanism into Prov government Strategy

Structure of Gangs

Criminal economy and attempts at Corporatisation

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Thank you

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