In a recent survey conducted by consumer insights company Pondering Panda, it was found that the majority of young South Africans do not trust the police, and believe police brutality occurs on a regular basis. 3003 respondents, aged between 15 and 34, were interviewed across South Africa, and asked about their perceptions of the police and how they treat people. 53% said they did not trust the police. In contrast, 23% actually felt afraid of the police, while 22% felt the police could still be trusted.
On the question of how respondents felt about the police, women were more likely than men to say they were afraid. 27% of female respondents claimed to be scared of the police, compared to 18% of males. In terms of race, black and white respondents felt equally fearful of the police, with almost 1 in 4 (24%) of both groups saying the police scared them. These perceptions were consistent according to both age and location.
Also read & listen to: Corruption, Death Penalty and Crime Line – SA youth perception
Young people also had strong opinions on the issue of police brutality. 4 in 5 respondents (80%) believed that the beating and torturing of people by members of the police was something that happened often. In comparison, 15% thought it was something that did not happen often, and only 3% believed it rarely happened.
Shirley Wakefield, spokesperson for Pondering Panda said, “Young people are trapped between a high rate of crime and a police force they don’t trust – a situation that can only lead to further disillusionment with South Africa’s future. Not only do the majority not trust the police, but almost 1 in 4 are actively afraid of them. This situation needs to be addressed urgently if youth are to feel safe enough to cooperate with police and help reduce crime.”
All interviews were carried out on cellphones between the 4th and the 7th of March, across South Africa. Responses were weighted to be nationally representative in terms of age, gender and race.
4 in 5 young South Africans believe that #policebrutality is something that happens often. Only 3% think it’s a rare occurrence
— Pondering Panda (@pandainsights) March 8, 2013
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