R10-billion for police, prosecutors

Over R10-billion will be spent on strengthening the police force and judiciary over the next three years, Finance Minister Trevor Manuel said in his budget speech on Wednesday.

There would be more than 200 000 police officers by the end of March 2011, up 22% from the 163 000 police officers in 2006/07, as well as more prosecutors, judges and magistrates.

Forty police stations would be built, and more money pumped into forensic science laboratories, he said.

“An electronic case-flow management system has now been implemented in 266 courts, document scanning and digital recording systems have been introduced, and the justice department’s financial systems have been modernised.”

According to documents tabled by Manuel, the Safety and Security Department’s budget will increase to R49,3-billion by 2010/11, from R40-billion in 2008/09 and R36-billion in 2007/08.

The government intended reducing contact crimes by seven to 10% a year, including crimes against women and children.

The correctional services department was building six new-generation prisons by 2010/11, five of them through public-private partnerships. They would accommodate 3 000 prisoners each.

The department was also making efforts to improve its rehabilitation of prisoners, to reduce the numbers of repeat offenders.

A total of R15-billion would be allocated to the Correctional Services Department in 2010/11, from R10,7-billion in 2007/08.