Policing cybercrime in South Africa: Issues and challenges

Abstract

With the rapid advancement of information technology (IT), it increasingly becomes challenging to identify crimes devoid of a digital component. An increase in internet users correlates with a rising percentage of cybercriminals transitioning traditional crime to the online environment. It is essential to enhance the cybercrime preparedness of law enforcement agencies to effectively address and eliminate this issue. Cyber-attacks have adversely affected the escalating epidemic, necessitating effective solutions. This paper employs qualitative content analysis to examine the challenges and opportunities faced by the South African Police Service (SAPS) in addressing cybercrime. The objective is to propose strategies and methodologies for the establishment of robust professional institutions and the allocation of adequate resources to address cybercrime effectively. The findings indicate a relationship between organisational context, complexity, and control in the context of cybercrime response. Larger agencies, such as the SAPS, those whose officers perform more non-routine tasks, and agencies operating under an active collective bargaining agreement are more inclined to allocate specific resources to cybercrime. Agencies characterised by increased hierarchical layers, greater specialisation, and a higher reliance on civilian employees are more inclined to assign dedicated personnel to cybercrime efforts. This article is among the limited studies employing this framework to analyse the relationship between organisational characteristics and responses to cybercrime. This perspective is beneficial for analysing police organisations, policies, programs, and strategies.