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Eastern Cape Safety and Liaison MEC, Wezile Tikana says crime prevention forums need to be strengthened in both urban and rural areas in the province.
She was speaking at the 2014 Crime Statistics media briefing in Port Elizabeth on Tuesday.
Tikana says the focus is on crime awareness and that government needs to engage with local municipalities on the issue of strengthening municipal by-laws.
She added that unlicenced liquor outlets was a major problem, and that it is was critical to lobby the reviewing of the liquor licence act.
"We believe that people who are involved in crime are those coming from taverns at midnight and those who are unemployed." says Tikana.
Meanwhile, according to the police profile documents, the total strength of police personnel in the Eastern Cape is 21 156.
Tikana says although resources are not sufficient, the province did not have staff shortages.
"Each police official is responsible for 382 people. We still have vacancies, we are still within the ratio. We do have resource as much as they might not be very much efficient, but what can I say police officials are not everywhere."
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