THE USE OF DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID IN COMBATING STOCK THEFT: EXPERIENCES AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE SERVICE KWAZULU-NATAL SELECTED STOCK THEFT UNITS

Abstract

Existing literature propagates a variety of methods in combating stock theft across South Africa and elsewhere. However, Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) technology has been designed to revolutionise modern science and to enhance conventional methods of combating stock theft. The paper examines the experiences of three members of Stock Theft Units (STUs) of the South African Police Service (SAPS) in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Province, as these experiences relate to the use of DNA technology to verify identity and ownership and link criminals to crime scenes in the event of livestock being stolen, illegally relocated and slaughtered. The researchers found that the selected STU members are knowledgeable about this application, entirely focusing on the chain of custody in terms of handling of the exhibits from the crime scene to respective laboratories. Based on the findings, a new South African DNA technology conceptual framework for combating stock theft was developed, combining the available technologies with conventional methods to enhance the turnaround time analysing the DNA results

Keywords

• Combating, Crime scene, Deoxyribonucleic Acid technology

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