The Durban Region includes the following Police Station areas: Newark, Stanger, Glendale, Umhlali, Ndwedwe, Tongaat, Verulam, Inanda, Phoenix, Durban North, Kwamashu, Greenwood Park, Newlands, Kwadabeka, Sydenham, Mayville, CR Swart, Berea, Point, Umbilo, Cato Manor, Malvern, Westville, Pinetown, Hillcrest, Mariannhill, Kwadengezi, Chatsworth, Bellair, Montclair, Bayview, Maydon Wharf, Brighton Beach, Wentworth, Lamontville, Umlazi, Isipingo, Isipingo Beach, Kwamakutha, Umbumbulu, Amanzimtoti, Umkomaas

During 1998, almost 170 000 crimes were reported in the Durban region. The South African Police Services Crime Statistics show that the most frequently reported crimes were general theft, theft from motor vehicles, burglary of residential premises and theft of motor vehicles.

The Durban region also has high levels of serious crimes with 2 435 murders, 2 621 attempted murders and 3 578 rapes reported in 1998.

After a consistent decline since 1995, the number of reported crimes in the Durban region rose by 12% in 1998. Categories of reported crime which showed significant increases were truck hijacking (43% increase from previous year), robbery with aggravated circumstances (30% increase), general theft (20%), carjacking (18%) and burglary of residential premises (15%).

However, on the brighter side, the most serious crimes - murder, attempted murder and rape have only increased slightly or remained static between 1997 and 1998.

Africans, the vast majority who live in townships or informal settlements, are far more likely to be the victims of violent crimes than people living elsewhere. For example, in KwaMashu murder and serious assaults are regarded as high priority crimes by the police. The historically white suburbs, despite their greater potential for property crime, experience lower levels of crime because of their separation from other areas of the city. This, combined with better policing, has ensured greater levels of overall safety in these suburbs. Those located near informal areas or townships have, however, much higher levels of certain categories of crime including housebreaking and car theft. Theft of property is often associated with townships and informal settlements as these areas are home to the poorest populations.