Crime

            West Side Story is a musical about Gangs in New York and there crimes which they committed.
             Mayor Marion Barry once said, "If you take out the killings, (PAUSE) Washington actually has a very, very low crime rate".
             There is nothing more frightening than crime - and the fear of crime. (PAUSE).
             All of us will have felt that prickle of anxiety when walking down a poorly lit street, or when passing a gang of unruly youths loitering on a street corner. There is the shock of the sickening (PAUSE), sinking realization when burglars have invaded the sanctuary and security of our homes, and taken our valuables.
             But too often fear of crime is much greater than the chance of it actually happening. Fear of crime is fanned by speculation, horrific stories, and big headlines. Every crime is one too many, but the statistics on crime tell a different story from the media.
             Since, 2000 overall crime has decreased by 15%, burglaries have reduced by 30%, violence is down by 20%, and vehicle thefts have reduced by 14%.
             These are dramatic reductions, and demonstrates the real success of the polices tough stance on crime (PAUSE) -- Crime and criminals simply will not be tolerated.
             So, what have the police done to make our communities safer places to live and work? .
             Record numbers of police officers have been recruited. There are now nearly 132,000 police officers on patrol countrywide, the highest number since 1976 .
             Government campaigns to reduce car crime have also been very successful, with car thefts reducing by 14% in the past year. .
             However, now is not the time to be complacent - complacency gives the criminal or petty thief his opportunity. These reductions in crimes are excellent, but there is always more to be done - so no one lives in fear of the mob on the street corner, nor the conman at the door.
             I want Johannesburg to be the sort of place where pensioners can feel safe walking the streets after dark, where we can leave our homes or cars without fear of theft or vandalism, where a Saturday night out doesn't end in a street brawl.