South Africa's top cop said today that Soccer World Cup fans will be safe, and the country will be safer because of the work his force has done to prepare for the tournament which begins in June.
In an exclusive interview with The Associated Press, National Commissioner Bheki Cele said the World Cup's legacy for police has meant new equipment for his force and training for his officers with experts from Britain, France, Germany, the United States and elsewhere.
"The question is, `Will people be safe in South Africa?"' said Cele. "Starting on the 11th of June, people will be safe in South Africa."
Cele said nothing he can say will be as persuasive as what World Cup fans will experience. He is determined that they go home telling a South African success story.
South Africa's crime rate, among the highest in the world, has been a concern since it won the bid to become the first African host of soccer's World Cup. The tournament kicks off June 11.
"One thing I would never do is to deny that there is crime in South Africa, especially violent crime," Cele said.
But he said crime was decreasing, a point independent researchers also have made. The South African Institute of Race Relations said in a study last year that the number of murders and the rate per 100,000 have declined steadily since South Africa held its first all-race elections in 1994.
The institute, however, said the South African public still believed crime was worsening. That may be because crime, while falling, is seen as intolerably high, and because rates have been so high for so long, the institute said.
The World Cup has focused global attention on South Africa's crime rate and how it stacks up internationally. South Africa's murder rate per 100,000 citizens was 38.60 in 2006, compared to 0.88 in Germany, where the last World Cup was held.
Cele, who took over last year, said preparing for the World Cup has galvanized his force.
Preparations have included recruiting 55,000 new police officers. New equipment worth 665 million rand (about $88 million) includes six helicopters, 10 mobile command vehicles, body armor and water cannons.
Some 200 Interpol officers will be in the country during the monthlong tournament, along with up to eight officers from each of the 31 countries sending teams. Cele said they will work as advisers with South African police and not have arrest powers. source: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/
In an exclusive interview with The Associated Press, National Commissioner Bheki Cele said the World Cup's legacy for police has meant new equipment for his force and training for his officers with experts from Britain, France, Germany, the United States and elsewhere.
"The question is, `Will people be safe in South Africa?"' said Cele. "Starting on the 11th of June, people will be safe in South Africa."
Cele said nothing he can say will be as persuasive as what World Cup fans will experience. He is determined that they go home telling a South African success story.
South Africa's crime rate, among the highest in the world, has been a concern since it won the bid to become the first African host of soccer's World Cup. The tournament kicks off June 11.
"One thing I would never do is to deny that there is crime in South Africa, especially violent crime," Cele said.
But he said crime was decreasing, a point independent researchers also have made. The South African Institute of Race Relations said in a study last year that the number of murders and the rate per 100,000 have declined steadily since South Africa held its first all-race elections in 1994.
The institute, however, said the South African public still believed crime was worsening. That may be because crime, while falling, is seen as intolerably high, and because rates have been so high for so long, the institute said.
The World Cup has focused global attention on South Africa's crime rate and how it stacks up internationally. South Africa's murder rate per 100,000 citizens was 38.60 in 2006, compared to 0.88 in Germany, where the last World Cup was held.
Cele, who took over last year, said preparing for the World Cup has galvanized his force.
Preparations have included recruiting 55,000 new police officers. New equipment worth 665 million rand (about $88 million) includes six helicopters, 10 mobile command vehicles, body armor and water cannons.
Some 200 Interpol officers will be in the country during the monthlong tournament, along with up to eight officers from each of the 31 countries sending teams. Cele said they will work as advisers with South African police and not have arrest powers. source: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/