Petrus MACHETHE, Emeka E. OBİOHA

FUNCTIONAL STRATEGIES OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE SERVICE IN PREVENTION AND COMBATING OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE IN A SOUTH AFRICAN TOWNSHIP

Başlangıç: 2009
Yayıncı: Sosyal Bilimler Araştırmaları Derneği

This paper focused on the functional strategies and initiatives taken by South African Police Service (SAPS) towards prevention and combating of substance abuse in a South African Township. The study made use of mainly quantitative (survey) method to collect relevant data from 80 participants who were selected from the SAPS, local churches, Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and community members. The findings of this study indicate an array of strategies in use. Police regular conduct of stop and search in certain sectors than others, regular patrols, use of reliable volunteer informants (informants), secret detection, tracking and investigation, sharing of crime information tips and education of public, and police partnership with civil organisations were revealed as the sustaining strategies by the SAPS. Critical analysis of these strategies in the study revealed a mixed bag of functionality. Pragmatic suggestions to improve on the lagging strategies were made by this study.

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