In recent years, South Africa has become infamous for unacceptable high rates of police brutality and criminality. This article alludes to police brutality and criminality in general and explains women in custody's fear and experience of police brutality in South Africa. A total of 56 women were interviewed over a 6-month period to determine the level of police brutality they endured while in custody. Special attention is given to the types of crime committed, police brutality endured during custody, whether they reported the incident of police brutality to officials, as well as their general feelings and attitudes (fear) towards the police. We found that a significant number of women committed crimes such as in possession of stolen property, malicious damage to property, armed robbery and dealing in drugs. Most of the women experienced physical assault (clapping, hitting and kicking) and verbal abuse (being sworn at) while in custody.

The world's attention on maritime piracy is largely focussed on the root causes, modus operandi, extent and prevention. However, the complexity of the relationship between piracy and kidnapping for ransom are largely overlooked.In this article it is argued that modern day pirates are sophisticated, wellresourced transnational criminal syndicates that have tapped into the huge economical potential of organised crime at sea. Due to the involvement of insurance companies the negotiation process for the release of vessels and crew has become little more than a business transaction between the owners of the hijacked vessel and the pirates. In the case of uninsured smaller vessels, such as yachts and fishing vessels, non-existing infrastructures to assist with the negotiation process and governmental policy not to negotiate with pirates has resulted in hostages of piracy being alienated and isolated. The ignorance of governments and the economic driven approach of stakeholders in the maritime sector in general to the plight of hostages were one of the key issues acknowledged at the 2011 International Conference on Piracy at Sea in Malmö, Sweden. A South African case study is used to illustrate the challenges faced by families during negotiation for the release of hostages from smaller vessels.

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