DEATHS IN POLICE CUSTODY AND DEATHS AS A RESULT OF POLICE ACTION FOR 2011/12

Media Statement
PRETORIA – 01 March 2013

The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) has noted the various incorrect figures of deaths in police custody and deaths as a result of police action being bandied about in the media.

The last Annual Report of the Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD) indicated that there were seven hundred and twenty (720) incidents of deaths in police custody and deaths as a result of police action in the financial year 2011/12. This was a decrease of 10 percent compared to 2010/11.

Thirty-two percent (232 cases) of all deaths were deaths in police custody and sixty-eight percent (488 cases) were deaths as a result of police action.

Although these numbers are still unacceptably high, they have come down considerably over the last four years.

Issued by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate

For enquiries:
IPID National Spokesman
Moses Dlamini
082 809 1927
mdlamini@ipid.gov.za