Paarl awaits outcome of crime stat investigation
2009-10-29
Lise Beyers
THE Paarl Police Station is waiting with bated breath for the conclusion of the inquiry into the station’s alleged crime statistics tampering. This comes in the wake of the recent firing of the Lansdowne police station commander Charlene Chandler who was found guilty of crime statistic manipulation at this station. Earlier this year allegations were made that various police stations in the area, including Paarl, had been manipulating crime stats. The white-washed statistics allegedly included at least 50 rape cases which involved children as young as four years old. These rape cases were recorded as “less serious injuries”. Other crimes such as burglaries and fraud were also played down by being classified as less serious crimes, making Paarl look like a star crime-fighting station. These manipulations allegedly took place between January 2007 and May this year. During this period, the Paarl Police Station was awarded second place at last year’s South African Police Services Western Cape Prestige Awards. Coincidentally, Landsdowne police station was runner up in 2008. In 2007 and 2008 Paarl’s station commander, Director Mzwandile Tiyo, was awarded Station Commander of the Year, with Chandler as a runner-up in 2008. Now a weekly newspaper, the Mail & Guardian, has directly implicated Tiyo with the crime statistic scandal. According to them, they have in their possession a police report with allegations of Tiyo’s involvement. The report allegedly states that Director Vincent Beaton, cluster manager of the area, was told by an officer at Paarl Police Station that Tiyo had instructed officers not to open rape cases, but rather record them as inquiries. According to the Mail & Guardian Tiyo had instructed a female captain at the Paarl Police Station to change the charges. She was to be informed at all times of any priority crimes. The alleged crime statistics manipulation at Paarl Police Station and surrounds are being investigated by the Independent Complaints Directorate, as well as internally by the provincial branch of the National Inspectorate Division. It is expected that their investigation will be concluded by the end of this month.
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