QUESTION 1
Five questions police officials could use to get information (with examples)
1. Open-ended questions
o Purpose: Encourage detailed responses and allow the interviewee to
explain events in their own words.
o Example: “Can you describe everything you saw at the scene last night?”
2. Closed-ended questions
o Purpose: Obtain specific, concise answers (often yes/no or a specific
fact).
o Example: “Was the suspect wearing a red jacket?”
3. Probing questions
o Purpose: Seek clarification or more details about a previous statement.
o Example: “You mentioned hearing a loud noise — what kind of noise was
it?”
4. Leading questions
o Purpose: Suggest a possible answer within the question (should be used
carefully to avoid bias).
o Example: “The man you saw had a beard, didn’t he?”
5. Multiple-choice questions
o Purpose: Provide a range of possible answers when the interviewee is
unsure.
o Example: “Was the car you saw blue, black, or silver?”
Note: A balanced use of these question types helps ensure accuracy and completeness
in gathering information (Van der Westhuizen, 2020).
QUESTION 2
, Role of the Crime Administration System (CAS) within SAPS (with practical
examples)
The Crime Administration System (CAS) is an electronic database used by the
South African Police Service (SAPS) to register, track, and manage criminal cases
from the moment they are reported until closure. It plays a vital role in crime recording,
investigation, and performance monitoring.
Roles of CAS:
1. Case registration and allocation
o CAS records all reported crimes with a unique CAS number.
o Example: When a burglary is reported in Cape Town, it is logged on CAS
with details such as date, location, type of crime, and investigating officer
assigned.
2. Information storage and retrieval
o Stores case details, suspect profiles, witness statements, and evidence
logs.
o Example: An investigator in Johannesburg can access prior case
information on a suspect to identify patterns.
3. Investigation management
o Tracks the progress of an investigation and ensures accountability.
o Example: The system shows pending tasks, such as awaiting forensic
results, and deadlines for follow-ups.
4. Statistical analysis and reporting
o Generates crime statistics for strategic planning.
o Example: CAS data may reveal an increase in armed robberies in a
specific precinct, prompting targeted patrols.
5. Inter-departmental coordination
o Facilitates information sharing between SAPS units (detectives, crime
intelligence, etc.).
Five questions police officials could use to get information (with examples)
1. Open-ended questions
o Purpose: Encourage detailed responses and allow the interviewee to
explain events in their own words.
o Example: “Can you describe everything you saw at the scene last night?”
2. Closed-ended questions
o Purpose: Obtain specific, concise answers (often yes/no or a specific
fact).
o Example: “Was the suspect wearing a red jacket?”
3. Probing questions
o Purpose: Seek clarification or more details about a previous statement.
o Example: “You mentioned hearing a loud noise — what kind of noise was
it?”
4. Leading questions
o Purpose: Suggest a possible answer within the question (should be used
carefully to avoid bias).
o Example: “The man you saw had a beard, didn’t he?”
5. Multiple-choice questions
o Purpose: Provide a range of possible answers when the interviewee is
unsure.
o Example: “Was the car you saw blue, black, or silver?”
Note: A balanced use of these question types helps ensure accuracy and completeness
in gathering information (Van der Westhuizen, 2020).
QUESTION 2
, Role of the Crime Administration System (CAS) within SAPS (with practical
examples)
The Crime Administration System (CAS) is an electronic database used by the
South African Police Service (SAPS) to register, track, and manage criminal cases
from the moment they are reported until closure. It plays a vital role in crime recording,
investigation, and performance monitoring.
Roles of CAS:
1. Case registration and allocation
o CAS records all reported crimes with a unique CAS number.
o Example: When a burglary is reported in Cape Town, it is logged on CAS
with details such as date, location, type of crime, and investigating officer
assigned.
2. Information storage and retrieval
o Stores case details, suspect profiles, witness statements, and evidence
logs.
o Example: An investigator in Johannesburg can access prior case
information on a suspect to identify patterns.
3. Investigation management
o Tracks the progress of an investigation and ensures accountability.
o Example: The system shows pending tasks, such as awaiting forensic
results, and deadlines for follow-ups.
4. Statistical analysis and reporting
o Generates crime statistics for strategic planning.
o Example: CAS data may reveal an increase in armed robberies in a
specific precinct, prompting targeted patrols.
5. Inter-departmental coordination
o Facilitates information sharing between SAPS units (detectives, crime
intelligence, etc.).
