PROJECT: FARM ATTACKS - WHAT TO DO DURING AND AFTER AN ATTACK (PART 3)
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Preventative security can reduce risk, but no security system can eliminate the possibility of a serious crime.
When an attack occurs, the priorities change.
The immediate objective is to protect human life, activate assistance and avoid actions that unnecessarily increase the danger.
Once the immediate threat has passed, the priorities become preserving evidence, protecting victims and witnesses, documenting what occurred and ensuring that the matter is properly investigated.
IF AN ATTACK OCCURS - PROTECT LIFE FIRST:
Human life must take priority over property.
Do not take unnecessary risks to protect vehicles, livestock, equipment or possessions.
If it is safe to do so, activate the alarm or emergency communication system as soon as possible.
Contact SAPS and the relevant local emergency or rural-safety network.
Provide a precise location, including:
farm name;
nearest road;
gate or entrance number; and
GPS coordinates, where available.
Clear information can assist emergency services in reaching the correct location as quickly as possible.
DO NOT CONFRONT OR PURSUE SUSPECTS:
Victims should not attempt to become law-enforcement officers during an attack.
Do not confront armed suspects unnecessarily.
Do not pursue fleeing suspects once the immediate danger has passed.
A decision to chase suspects can expose victims, family members and responding personnel to further danger.
The priority is to survive the attack and summon assistance.
PROTECT THE CRIME SCENE:
Once the immediate danger has passed, the property may contain critical evidence.
Do not touch, move, clean or discard anything unless this is necessary to save a life or prevent further danger.
Preserve:
CCTV footage;
photographs;
alarm records;
telephone records;
access-control records;
electronic communications; and
other relevant digital evidence.
Do not unnecessarily switch off or overwrite recording equipment.
RECORD WHAT YOU REMEMBER:
Victims and witnesses should record their observations as soon as reasonably possible.
Important details may include:
number of suspects;
physical descriptions;
clothing;
weapons;
accents or speech patterns;
vehicles;
registration numbers, if observed;
direction of travel;
words or names used;
approximate times;
points of entry and exit; and
anything unusual that was noticed.
Where possible, witnesses should make their own independent notes rather than constructing one account collectively.
This can help investigators establish what each person actually observed.
DO NOT BECOME AN INVESTIGATOR ON SOCIAL MEDIA:
After a serious attack, emotions can run high.
Communities may immediately begin sharing photographs, names, vehicle registrations and theories about who may be responsible.
This can create another problem.
Do not circulate unverified information or photographs of supposed suspects.
An innocent person may be incorrectly identified.
Online speculation can also interfere with an investigation, expose witnesses or alert suspects to investigative developments.
Information should be provided to investigators rather than turned into an online investigation.
PROTECT VICTIMS AND WITNESSES:
Farm attacks can have serious consequences for victims, families, employees and witnesses.
Children and traumatised victims require particular protection.
Do not pressure victims to speak publicly or repeatedly recount traumatic events unnecessarily.
Avoid publishing photographs, names, addresses or other personal information without appropriate consent.
Where serious physical violence occurred, victims should obtain medical treatment and ensure that injuries are appropriately documented.
Medical records and other contemporaneous documentation may become important evidence.
DOCUMENT WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE ATTACK:
The investigation does not end when the first police vehicle leaves the property.
Where appropriate, maintain a written record of:
who attended the scene;
when they arrived;
which officials or professionals were present;
what evidence was collected or handed over;
relevant case-reference information; and
significant subsequent developments.
This is not intended to interfere with SAPS.
It provides victims and their representatives with an organised record of what occurred.
WHEN THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION:
Victims and families may not understand the criminal-investigation process or know what information should be preserved.
Where serious concerns arise regarding the handling of a case, victims or families should consider obtaining appropriate independent legal or investigative assistance.
Any independent investigation should complement, rather than obstruct, the lawful work of SAPS and other authorities.
Evidence must be obtained and preserved lawfully.
DO NOT ALLOW VIGILANCE TO DISAPPEAR:
Following a farm attack, security awareness within a community often increases dramatically.
Neighbours communicate more frequently. Patrols increase. Gates are checked more often.
But heightened vigilance can become exhausting, and over time security practices may return to their previous levels.
This creates a vulnerability.
Security must be maintained consistently, not only after a neighbouring property has been attacked.
Alarm systems, lighting, fencing, communication systems, access procedures and emergency contact lists should be reviewed regularly.
SSS PUBLIC SAFETY MESSAGE:
A farm attack is a criminal investigation, not an invitation for the public to conduct its own investigation.
The role of the community is to:
Protect life. Activate assistance. Preserve evidence. Provide accurate information. Protect victims and witnesses. Allow investigators to do their work.
Every minute after an attack can be important.
The preservation of CCTV footage, digital records, physical evidence and independent witness recollections can contribute significantly to establishing what happened.
A farm attack can change a family and a community permanently.
The correct response begins with protecting human life and avoiding unnecessary confrontation.
Once the immediate danger has passed, the priorities become equally important: preserve the crime scene, protect evidence, document observations, obtain medical attention where necessary and provide accurate information to investigators.
Communities should also resist the temptation to identify or expose supposed suspects on social media.
The objective after an attack is not to create another investigation on the internet. It is to preserve the evidence
that can assist a lawful investigation.
Specialised Security Services (SSS) remains focused on crime investigation, crime prevention and public education, assisting victims and families with serious and complex cases through specialist investigative services.
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