Hon Speaker, the transformation of the criminal justice system has progressed substantially. It is, however, not a singular event, but a continuing process to enhance service delivery. The Criminal Justice System Review was completed in 2008 and the implementation of the review's recommendations through a seven-point implementation plan began in earnest in 2009.
The seven-point plan's focus areas now form part of the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster's, service delivery agreement signed by all security cluster Ministers with the President. The objective is to ensure that all people in South Africa are, and feel, safe. Simply put, we are working towards a system in which there is improved co-ordination between the police, prosecution authorities, the courts and correctional services, to bring improved results in the fight against crime and corruption, as well as enhanced access to fair and equitable justice to all South Africans.
Actions emanating from the seven-point plan and the delivery agreement have also been made part of the strategic frameworks and agendas of all departments and agencies. Tangible progress has been made on many fronts. For example, successive reports have indicated a decrease in serious crime, the detection rate for crime, as regards house and business robberies, as well as vehicle hijacking, has also significantly decreased. We are improving the integrity of the National Population Register. We have deployed the SA National Defence Force on the borders and at ports of entry and are seeing progress in containing the entry of counterfeit goods and illegal persons through the country's borders.
Our courts have registered improved case finalisation rates, for example, the High Court with an average conviction rate of 84%. In addition to these measures, the Office of the Chief Justice has initiated case flow management and a process to set uniform norms and standards for the judiciary. Progress has been made to establish 26 additional Thuthuzela Care Centres and victim support rooms at police stations. In order to strengthen partnerships between government and communities in fighting crime, a Community Safety Forum Policy has been put in place, with a phased implementation schedule to start in 2012.
These are just a few examples that indicate that integrated and co- ordinated interventions across the criminal justice system have had a very positive impact. The transformation programme spans several planning cycles as a full-scale transformation programme that is based upon continuous improvement practices. There are no exact end dates for the programme as a whole. Timeframes and targets have, however, been set and are reported on in relation to the various focus areas through the reporting cycles of the JCPS Delivery Agreement Report to Cabinet on a quarterly basis. The cluster reviews its delivery agreement, and thus reviews the targets for each element of the project.
The JCPS Cluster is currently in the process of refining the delivery agreement which sets out milestones, timelines and deliverables. This process is being guided by the Department of Performance Monitoring and Evaluation in the Presidency and the refined delivery agreement shall come into effect at the beginning of April this year. Thank you, hon Speaker.