In Information Security it is drummed into us how important Separation of Duties is.
I investigate security methods, security matrices and inform the Operations teams one what to do. I also measure what is being done. But I don't do it and I don't ever measure myself.
According to this article in the Times online paper the police are playing with numbers:
" ‘We were told by police officers that there is a general belief that if there is a reduction in the number of rape cases reported, they stand in line for promotion'."
So hence, "an investigation by The Times into child abuse has uncovered claims that some police officers are not recording all rape cases — in the hope that keeping statistics on the crime down will fast-track their careers."
The article goes on to say that the police are refusing to record the crimes or are recording them as common assaults instead.
The problem is that the crime is not receiving the same attention that it would have, had it been logged as rape. The victim also does not get the right medical treatment such as HIV treatment.
How do we get around this? Separate the duties. The police who investigate crime after it has happened should be rewarded for the number of crimes investigated. The police who prevent crime should be rewarded for bringing down the crime. That way, we all win.
Showing posts with label crime. Show all posts
Showing posts with label crime. Show all posts
Monday, July 30, 2007
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
We support you FNB!
Ok, this is way off topic. But it is my blog so I can do what I want with it, not?
I bank with FNB and I am proud to be a customer of theirs.
South Africans should know this story by now but overseas readers may not:
First National Bank is involved in a number of non-banking initiatives to give back to the community etc.
One of these was a petition to the Office of the President asking for more action to be taken on crime. They made thousands of little booklets that were addressed to the above Office. The plan was to send these out to the general public who would then fill in an incident of crime that had touched them. The petitions were (at the bank's expense) already stamped and addressed.
The Government got wind of the idea and (it is alleged) put pressure on the bank (who does the banking for some big government departments) and the whole plan was dropped.
FNB is a business and I understand them needing to reassess the situation and watching the bottom line first but I am very upset with the Government and the position they have taken.
It is obvious that crime is a huge deal in South Africa - even the conservative, edited, diminutive statistics that get released each year show how bad South Africa's crime levels are.
Even wikipedia has an article on crime in South Africa which begins "Crime is a major problem in South Africa. According to a survey for the period 1998-2000 compiled by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, South Africa was ranked second for assault and murder (by all means) per capita, in addition to being ranked second for rape and first for rapes per capita."
(I feel that) It got to the point where normal people were sick of crime but were numb to it. The papers stopped printing stories about crime unless they were strange or terrible.
Then South Africa got interested in crime again:
First National bank seem to be a very patriotic bank. They have loads of adverts promoting how great the 2010 FIFA World Cup will be. They are also (the main?) sponsor of http://www.homecomingrevolution.co.za/ which aims to promote South Africa to ex-patriots who may be interested in returning.
Reading a few messages on the forum there, the message is quite clear - "we would love to return home for a million reasons. and we will not for one reason - crime!"
It seems to me that FNB as a place has just, like the rest of us, had enough of the moaning about crime and wants to do something about it. They are not allowed to start their own police force and justice system so they are trying to get the attention of the people who can deal with crime.
Unfortunately instead of taking action against crime the Government have taken action against FNB.
And that...is a crime.
I bank with FNB and I am proud to be a customer of theirs.
South Africans should know this story by now but overseas readers may not:
First National Bank is involved in a number of non-banking initiatives to give back to the community etc.
One of these was a petition to the Office of the President asking for more action to be taken on crime. They made thousands of little booklets that were addressed to the above Office. The plan was to send these out to the general public who would then fill in an incident of crime that had touched them. The petitions were (at the bank's expense) already stamped and addressed.
The Government got wind of the idea and (it is alleged) put pressure on the bank (who does the banking for some big government departments) and the whole plan was dropped.
FNB is a business and I understand them needing to reassess the situation and watching the bottom line first but I am very upset with the Government and the position they have taken.
It is obvious that crime is a huge deal in South Africa - even the conservative, edited, diminutive statistics that get released each year show how bad South Africa's crime levels are.
Even wikipedia has an article on crime in South Africa which begins "Crime is a major problem in South Africa. According to a survey for the period 1998-2000 compiled by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, South Africa was ranked second for assault and murder (by all means) per capita, in addition to being ranked second for rape and first for rapes per capita."
(I feel that) It got to the point where normal people were sick of crime but were numb to it. The papers stopped printing stories about crime unless they were strange or terrible.
Then South Africa got interested in crime again:
- The Minister of Safety and Security, Charles Nqakula caused outrage among South Africans in June 2006 when he responded to opposition MPs in parliament, who were not satisfied that enough was being done to counter crime, saying that MPs who complain about the country's crime rate, should stop whining and leave the country (Also from the wikipedia)
- The 19th FIFA World Cup is scheduled to take place in South Africa. This event will bring tons of foreign capital into South Africa and promote to the entire world the idea of South Africa as a holiday destination. On the other hand - the infastructure and initial outlay is huge too. It is do-or-die. This competition has to be handled perfectly for the country to benefit. Crime is a risk to this. Possibly the most important one.
First National bank seem to be a very patriotic bank. They have loads of adverts promoting how great the 2010 FIFA World Cup will be. They are also (the main?) sponsor of http://www.homecomingrevolution.co.za/ which aims to promote South Africa to ex-patriots who may be interested in returning.
Reading a few messages on the forum there, the message is quite clear - "we would love to return home for a million reasons. and we will not for one reason - crime!"
It seems to me that FNB as a place has just, like the rest of us, had enough of the moaning about crime and wants to do something about it. They are not allowed to start their own police force and justice system so they are trying to get the attention of the people who can deal with crime.
Unfortunately instead of taking action against crime the Government have taken action against FNB.
And that...is a crime.
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