Crime Intelligence Unit as a Strategic Partner in Preventing Crime in Northern Kwazulu-Natal

This article dealt with the role played/or supposed to be played by Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU) in preventing crime in the research area. South African Police Service (SAPS) is striving to base their policing in general and crime prevention in particular on intelligence-led policing (ILP). This means that policing activities should be informed by intelligence gathered. The article is based on two areas in Northern KZN, that is Newcastle and Vryheid. The aim was to establish the role played by CIU in crime prevention in the research area. Eighteen (18) participants were drawn between Crime Intelligence Officials (CIO) and Operational Police Officials (OPO). Qualitative research methodology was followed to conduct the research and purposive method of data gathering was used. Gathered data provided information that was used to determine the role of CIU in preventing crime in the research area. The findings indicate that the Crime Intelligence Unit plays a minimal role in crime prevention in the research area. Challenges that hinder working relationship between these two sets of police officials were also identified. Recommendations were also made on how to improve the role of CIU in preventing crime in the research area.