Enhancing Law Enforcement with LEAP Programme in Cape Town
The Law Enforcement Advancement Programme (LEAP) aims to stabilize crime hotspots in Cape Town and ensure residents' safety. LEAP grants powers such as warrantless arrests, article seizures, and demanding identification. Municipal law enforcement officers have limited powers regarding specific offenses. LEAP plays a crucial role in the criminal justice system by compounding minor offenses. The program aligns with the Safety Plan to reduce the murder rate by half.
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Department of Police Oversight and Community Safety Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) Briefing on Law Enforcement Advancement Programme (LEAP) 14 June 2023
Abbreviations List of Abbreviations Criminal Justice System City of Cape Town Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 Community Police Forum CJS CoCT CPA CPF Cape Town Metropolitan Police Department CTMPD Department of Health and Wellness Domestic Violence Emergency Medical Services DOHW DV EMS Emergency Policing and Incident Command Program EPIC Gender-based Violence Law Enforcement GBV LE Law Enforcement Advancement Programme LEAP Law Enforcement Technical Teams LETAT Learner Law Enforcement Officers Monitoring and Evaluation Neighbourhood Watch LLEO M&E NHW Department of Police Oversight and Community Safety POCS Provincial Strategic Goal Provincial Strategic Plan South African Police Service Transfer Payment Agreement Vision Inspired Priority Western Cape Government Western Cape Liquor Authority Western Cape Police Ombudsman PSG PSP SAPS TPA VIP WCG WCLA WCPO 2
Law Enforcement Advancement Programme (LEAP) The LEAP objective is to stabilize the crime hotspots in the metro and to ensure the safety and security of Cape Town s residents. Contribute to Safety Plan objective of halving the murder rate. 4
LEAP: Powers and functions The power to arrest a person without a warrant (as a peace officer), in terms of section 40(1) and only in the circumstances set out in sub-sections (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (h) and (j) of the CPA a person arrested without a warrant must, however, as soon as possible be brought to a police station in terms of section 50(1)(a) of the CPA; The power to search an arrested person and to seize an article, in terms of section 23 of the CPA with the seized article being forthwith delivered to a police official The power to demand the name and address of specific categories of person failing which an arrest may be effected, per section 41(1) of the CPA a person arrested without a warrant must, however, as soon as possible be brought to a police station in terms of section 50(1)(a) of the CPA; and Issue a written notice indicating the compounding of certain minor offences, in terms of section 341 of the CPA again which is in essence a procedural step in the criminal justice system Powers conferred in terms of S 334(1)(a) of the Criminal Procedure Act. Minister of Justice may confer powers on peace officers. Government Gazette Notice No. 19 of 2018 sets out powers of municipal law enforcement officers: Limited to certain offences: by-law enforcement, liquor & aspects of Firearms Control Act. Issue a written notice as a method of securing attendance at magistrates court for minor offences, in terms of section 56 of the CPA which is in essence a procedural step in the criminal justice system The execution of warrants of arrest in terms of section 44 of the CPA which must be done in terms of the warrant. 5
Scope of Departments Role in Leap Deployments Authorized in business plan between CoCT & POCS Deployments are data led Deployments managed on bi-weekly operational meetings Weekly reports from CoCT obtained as M&E Deviation from deployments agreed to in business plan 6
Date-led and evidence-based deployments What (murder, crime) How? (gunshot, stabbing) Where (street, place) Five whiskeys and hotel When (Day of week & time of day) Who (age & gender) Why (motive, gang) 7
Data Sources Health data Forensic Pathology Data Hectis/ Safety Dashboard EMS Communities Information throughCPF s, NHW, whistle blowers and other community structures SAPS Integrated and joint planning operations Released crime statistics and data Area-Specific Integration happens here through LETATS as data is shared and enhanced with other partners in CJS WCLA Assist enforcement section of WCLA with operations on request 8 8
LEAP Deployments (continued) Permanently deployed in 13 high-crime policing precincts, of which ten forms part of the top murder stations in the Western Cape. These areas include Delft, Gugulethu, Harare, Khayelitsha, Kraaifontein, Mfuleni, Mitchells Plain, Nyanga, Philippi East, and Samora Machel. The other high crime areas where LEAP is deployed to are Atlantis, Bishop Lavis and Philippi (Hanover Park). Reaction unit deployed in Grassy Park (Ottery) and Steenberg to stabilize the area. 9
LEAP Deployment per station LEAP MEMBERS DEPLOYED 100 94 92 87 85 85 85 90 80 74 70 65 70 64 61 60 48 46 50 43 40 30 20 10 0 11
LEAP Deployment (May 2023) LEAP MEMBERS DEPLOYED April 2020: Deployment started (500 officers) May 2023: Total of 1235 LEAP Members - 999 LLEOs and 152 (18) Commanders and (134) LEAP members operationally ready & deployed 999 operational support staff members 84 LEAP members who are not operationally LEAP Members Operationally not ready 84 ready (due to appointment and operational readiness delays) are deployed at malls, schools and wards. Commanders & Operational Support 152 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 12
Leap Value Recorded a total of 428 homicides in quarter 4, January to March 2023, of the 2022/23 financial year Decreased by 9% from 468 cases in 2021/22 to 428 in 2022/23, when compared with the same period of the previous year LEAP IS SHOWING ITS TRUE VALUE WITH A MURDER RATE DECREASE OF 9% This is the first time in LEAP s 3-year history that so many precincts recorded a decrease Comparing the 2021/22 financial year with the 2022/23 financial year, homicides in 8 LEAP precincts decreased, while 5 increased 13
LEAP Impact on Murder DECREASE IN MURDER Samora Machel 2% Mfuleni 6% Khayelitsha 17% Harare 8% Gugulethu 5% Bishop Lavis 10% Atlantis 23% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 14
LEAP actions and successes since inception (as at May 2023) 11 877 tik packets 1 183 dangerous weapons seized Mandrax: 16 045 tablets 472.42g of tik Total arrests executed: 16780 Narcotics & Alcohol confiscation 1 210 tik straws 34 tik lollies 368 firearms confiscated 458 Liquor: 12 292.6L bottles of various alcohol Since inception all reporting varied in terms of how drugs and liquor were reported on. In Jan 2022 categories were introduced as follows: 15 15
Tracking homicide in province and priority areas Murder increased by 0.12% in the Western Cape for the 2022/23 year compared with the previous year. It increased by 3.28% in the LEAP precincts combined, indicating that these are still concerning areas. Murder decreased in 7 of the LEAP precincts over the year: Kraaifontein (-10.64%), Mfuleni (-3.9%), Harare (-7.76%), Gugulethu (-15.31%), Bishop Lavis (-8.45%), and Atlantis (- 31.25%). Increases were noted in 6 precincts: Delft (3.75%), Nyanga (44.72%), Philippi East (48.15%), Mitchells Plain (22.77%), and Philippi (26.56%). Deployment hubs in Philippi and Delft for increased visibility. When looking at the murder rates over the period from LEAP s inception in 2019/20 to 2022/23, murder increased in the Western Cape by 3% and by 8% in the LEAP areas (Table 1). 3 LEAP precincts show a sustained decreased over the three-year period: Khayelitsha (34%), Bishop Lavis (16%) and Atlantis (29%). 16
Murder in the LEAP Precincts: 2019/20 2022/23 % change 19/20- 22/23 2022/23- 22/21 22/23- 19/20 Precinct 2019/2020 2020/2021 2021/2022 2022/23 %change Delft Kraaifontein Mfuleni Harare Khayelitsha Gugulethu Nyanga Samora Machel Philippi East Mitchells Plain Philippi Bishop Lavis Atlantis LEAP WC total % LEAP to WC total 265 137 165 162 251 157 185 106 156 115 78 77 62 1,916 3,975 48% 224 196 172 189 265 145 203 115 183 103 67 74 52 1,988 3,848 52% 267 235 231 219 196 164 161 130 108 101 64 71 64 2,011 4,109 49% 277 210 222 202 166 164 233 129 160 124 81 65 44 2,077 4,114 50% 10 -25 -9 -17 -30 3.75% -10.64% -3.90% -7.76% -15.31% 0.00% 44.72% -0.77% 48.15% 22.77% 26.56% -8.45% -31.25% 3.28% 0.12% 12 73 57 40 -85 5% 53% 35% 25% -34% 4% 26% 22% 3% 8% 4% -16% -29% 8% 3% 0 7 72 -1 52 23 17 -6 -20 66 48 23 4 9 3 -12 -18 161 139 5 17
Percentage change in LEAP Precincts: 2020/21 2022/23 LEAP Precincts % change 2021/22- 2022/23 60.00% 48.15% 50.00% 44.72% 40.00% 30.00% 26.56% 22.77% 20.00% 10.00% -0.77% -3.90% 3.75% 3.28% -8.45% -7.76% 0.12% 0.00% 0.00% -10.00% -20.00% -10.64% -15.31% -30.00% -31.25% -40.00% 18
LEAP Budget Over R1B invested in LEAP R350m (2023/24) R10m allocated for establishment of LEAP stations 19
Criteria for Funding The Law Enforcement Advancement Programme (LEAP) was implemented as a direct result of the Western Cape Provincial Safety Plan. The Western Cape Safety plan through LEAP prioritises the reduction of murder and therefore the areas with the highest homicide rates in province has been prioritised. Based on the homicide reports from the DoHW co-angulated with the SAPS Crime stats the stations with the highest murder rates is located within the City of Cape town. Therefore homicide rates has been the main criteria for the allocation of Law Enforcement funding during the MTEF period. The LEAP funding has been prioritised these priority areas. 21
Financial Analysis Transfers AMOUNT TRANSFERRED (AS PER TPA) PERIOD GAZETTED AMOUNT PERIOD OF TPA DATE TPA SIGNED DATE OF PAYMENT 1 February 2020 30 June 2020 2019-20 R130 million R130 million 27 February 2020 5 March 2020 R317m on 3 March 2021 R100m on 31 March 2021 2020-21 R417 million R417 million 1 Jul 2020 31 Dec 2021 18 February 2021 R140.25m paid on 23 December 2021 R25m transferred by 10 Feb 2022 2021-22 R165,25 million R165,25 million 1 July 2021 30 June 2022 15 December 2021 R300.0m paid on Jan 2023 R100.0m paid Mar 2023 2022-23 R400 million R400 million July 2022 30 June 2023 14 December 2022 July 2023 30 June 2024 Expected date end of August 2023 2023/24 R350 million n/a n/a 2024/25 R350 million n/a n/a n/a n/a 23
Financial Analysis: Co-funding Model TOTAL PROJECTED COST WCG (POCS) CONTRIBUTION % OF TOTAL PROJECT COST PERIOD CoCT % OF PROJECT COST CONTRIBUTION 2019-20 R169,8 million R130 million 77% R39,8 million 23% 2020-21 R557,7 million R417 million 75% R140,7 million 25% 2021-22 R458,2 million *R350 million 76% R108.2million 24% 2021-22 R458,7 million **R338,74 million 74% **R120,0 million 26% 2022-23 R533.0 million R400 million 75% R133.0 million 25% *Budget reduced by R184.75m, final TPA amount R165,25m **Revised contributions after roll-over approval of R173,5m Expenditure split of WCG 75% and 25% is on track in terms of reporting and the final verification after roll-over processes is in progress. Current spend @ 23 May 2023 is R306.7 million of the POCS contribution of R400.0m 24
Financial Analysis: POCS Underspend POCS % UNDERSPEND OF POCS CONTRIBUTION PERIOD TOTAL SPENT TOTAL UNDERSPEND CONTRIBUTION 2019-20 R130 million R 98.6 million R31.4 million 24.1% 2020-21 R417 million R 25.7 million R160.3 million 38.4% 2021-22 R338,7 million R 333.1 million R5.6 million 1.6% 2022-23 #R400 million #R306.7 million N/A N/A # 23 May 2023 25
Financial Analysis: CoCT Underspend CoCT % UNDERSPEND OF CoCT CONTRIBUTION PERIOD TOTAL SPENT TOTAL UNDERSPEND CONTRIBUTION 2019-20 R39.8 million R 35.6 million R4.2 million 10.6% 2020-21 R140.7 million R 72.7 million R68.0 million 48.3% 2021-22 R120 million R 114.1 million R5.9 million 4.9% 2022-23 R133.0 million #R80.6 million N/A N/A # 23 May 2023 26
Financial Analysis - Challenges Identified 1. Delays in finalizing TPA, Business plan 1. Delays in finalizing TPA, Business plan 1. Delays in finalizing TPA, Business impacting on transfers and spending. impacting on transfers and plan impacting on transfers and 2. Misaligned financial reporting periods spending. spending (acting Executive and challenges with financial 2. Misaligned financial reporting Director, new project manager). reporting systems in CoCT periods and challenges with 2. Impact of COVID-19 on training, 3. Impact of COVID-19 on training, financial reporting systems in CoCT. recruitment and procurement. recruitment and procurement. 3. Impact of COVID-19 on training, 3. Impact of delays in procurement 4. Procurement challenges (i.e., recruitment of EPIC devices and facility vehicles, firearms, storage of firearms, 4. Delays in procurement of uniforms, renovations equipment) vehicles, firearms, other equipment (EPIC), facility renovations. 5. Delays in recruitment of permanent staff (training, support) 28 Provincial Population Forum Presentation, June 2022
Training Emerging theme Action/s Responsible entity Inexperienced LEAP and limited training; longer training stints. Under discussion: Phased in approach to deployment (new officials to be placed in less violent communities before being deployed into the hotspots) CoCT (Under development implementation from next tranche) Training needs included: Statement taking; securing of crime scenes; improve driving skills; upskill training re community policing deal better with community members; increase learning time; frequent firearm training. Training development is underway. CoCT in the process of reporting on the changes that have been made. CoCT (Under development implementation from next refresher training) Strengthen soft skills (mediation; dealing with victims of crimes) Strengthen communication skills CoCT (Under development implementation from next refresher training) CoCT (Under development implementation from next refresher training) LEAP to be trained as first responder First Aid training; fire rescue. Currently underway: Accredited first responder course (tactically inclined) 29
Strengthening Operations (LEAP-SAPS-NHW-CPF) Emerging theme Action Responsible Entity By when? Improvement of relations between SAPS-LEAP at station level. Lack of by-in from SAPS. Design a collaboration strategy (on a local/ area- based level with measurable actions). Secure SAPS collaboration going forward. SAPS, POCS, CoCT (Under development implementation in Q3) Chaired by SAPS (co-chaired: SAPS & CoCT immediately) SAPS (SAPS & POCS ongoing) To be discussed Strengthen functional, operational planning meetings Introduce quarterly engagements between SAPS and LEAP commanders To be discussed Improve involvement of CPFs and NHWs. Relationship with the local structures need to be defined. Consultative process. To be discussed 30
Relationships between SAPS and LEAP officials Emerging theme Action/s Responsible entity Clarify roles and duties between SAPS and LEAP Define SAPS vs LEAP objectives and scope of work (not only output focused, but aligned to half murder rate through data & evidence) SAPS, CoCT, POCS (ongoing) Need to strengthen management relations between the stakeholders at station level Schedule monthly stakeholder management platforms PoCS (SAPS, CoCT, POCS through LETAT ongoing) Reporting mechanism for complaints against SAPS and LEAP officers Disseminate information on the Western Cape Police Ombudsman, LE contact number, SAPS hotline SAPS, CoCT, POCS (SAPS, CoCT, WCPO immediately) Key stakeholders who are resistant to collaboration and building relations at a local level Identify and explore factors that are contributing to the resistance and blockages POCS (Through monthly stakeholder engagement platforms) 31
Co-operation with CPFs, NHWs and others Emerging themes Action/s Responsible Entity Limited sharing of information between the CPFs, NHWs and LE agencies Develop stakeholders (at a local level). communication strategy for all SAPS, POCS, CoCT (linked to nr 5. Under development implementation in Q3) Increase the involvement of the CPFs and NHWs Compulsory monthly meetings with all safety stakeholders. Recommence functioning LETAT meetings. SAPS, POCS (linked to nr 7. Under development implementation in Q3) Community members are unaware of the LE agencies in their areas and the services provided Introduce community engagements in the areas between LE agencies NHWs, CPFs and community members (particularly community leaders). (SAPS, CoCT, POCS Linked to Nr 9. through LETAT ongoing) 32
Data, evidence and local intelligence Emerging Theme Action/s Responsible Entity Lack of data and information at a local, area- based level Meeting to further discuss data and evidence will be planned. SAPS, CoCT, POCS (LETAT from Q3) Limited local information (from residents and stakeholders working in the area) Share information on the reward system SAPS, CoCT, POCS (Linked with Nr 15. LETAT from Q3) Recruit informers Analysts to provide information in the planning meetings (daily) Inconsistent data (not standardised) Formalise the data agreement SAPS, CoCT, POCS (Linked with Nr 15 & 16. LETAT from Q3) 33
Way Forward CoCT inputs on the changes to the training curriculum for the LEAP officers will be included in the plan. A completed draft of the follow-up plan will be shared with SAPS; to incorporate their feedback on and participation to the plan. Plan has to be shared with the stakeholder management for review. Agreement in place with Western Cape Government, City of Cape Town, SAPS and Hans Seidel Foundation to conduct a pilot on data- and evidence-driven policing; to assess if the way policing is conducted in an area can be changed. 34
