New polling* from The Common Sense and the Social Research Foundation shows that voters are split between the police and their own communities when it comes to whom they trust most to fight crime. Voters were asked whom they trust most to prevent and investigate crime and keep them and their community safe: the police, private security firms, or community members, safety forums and local initiatives. In October 2026, 40% of voters chose community groups and 39% chose the police. Private security firms came third, chosen by 22%. Black voters were split the same way: 42% chose community groups and 40% the police. Coloured voters stood out: 57% chose the police, against 26% for community groups and 15% for private security. White voters were split between private security, chosen by 47%, and community groups, chosen by 40%. Only 13% of white voters chose the police. The chart below shows how voters, and each population group, answered.

*The figures come from the Social Research Foundation's October 2026 Market Survey, conducted in conjunction with The Common Sense, a national telephone poll of 3 100 registered voters between 18 September and 12 October 2026, with results weighted to the registered voter population. The survey has a design effect of 3.3044.