Assignment 2 Semester 1 2025
Unique #:861656
Due Date: 17 April 2025
Detailed solutions, explanations, workings
and references.
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, QUESTION 1
1.1.
The Crime Administration System (CAS) plays a critical role within the South
African Police Service (SAPS) as a comprehensive computer system used for
recording and managing crime data nationwide. Its primary function is to capture
crucial details about criminal incidents, including the type of crime, location,
complainant information, details of known suspects, instruments used, and the
date and time of the crime. This data is vital for effective law enforcement,
investigation, and crime analysis, and is used by various SAPS divisions,
including the Detective Service and Crime Intelligence Unit.
CAS is primarily located at the Client Service Centre (CSC), which acts as the
first point of contact when a crime is reported. For example, if a robbery is
reported at a local police station, the CSC personnel would enter the details of the
robbery into the CAS. This includes the name of the complainant, the suspect (if
identified), the weapon used, and the specifics of the incident, such as the date
and time. These details are then automatically linked to other police divisions,
such as the Detective Service, which ensures that investigators have real-time
access to the case file for follow-up. This streamlines the investigative process by
minimizing the need for manual communication between divisions.
In addition to aiding individual investigations, CAS also supports crime trend
analysis. The system is used by the Crime Information Analysis Centre (CIAC)
to monitor fluctuations in crime levels across different regions. For example, if a
particular neighborhood experiences an increase in house burglaries, CAS can
aggregate the data, alerting police officers and enabling the SAPS to allocate
resources more effectively. This helps in planning targeted operations, such as
increased patrols or setting up roadblocks in crime hotspots.
CAS also provides benefits in case management. For example, it assists
investigating officers in tracking the progress of cases by storing all relevant
documents, statements, and evidence in one central location. Senior officers can
supervise cases more effectively by monitoring their progress within the system.
This leads to improved accountability and oversight, as officers can quickly check
the status of ongoing investigations or view outstanding tasks. Additionally,
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