Background
Crime prevention has traditionally been regarded as the poor sister of the other elements of law enforcement and the criminal justice system. Although its importance might be less recognised, its effectiveness is no less great if it can be implemented successfully. What is increasingly being recognised internationally, is that situational and social crime prevention requires commitment and an understanding of the complex dynamics that operate within society. It is also necessary to acknowledge that different types of crime have different causes and occur in different circumstances. It is thus essential to gain a better understanding of the nature and circumstances of the crime in order to begin to tackle it more effectively.
In view of the crime being experienced by communities, and with the high priority people are currently placing on safety and security, the Department of Safety and Security initiated the production of a manual to assist local authorities to design their own crime prevention plan. The need to produce a user-friendly manual was also influenced by the significant role and increased responsibility of local government to combat and prevent crime. In response to this need, the CSIR, in collaboration with the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) and the Department of Safety and Security, developed a manual entitled Making South Africa Safe - A Manual for Community Based Crime Prevention. This manual provides step-by step guidance through the process of developing a crime prevention strategy that addresses local crime problems and responds to the needs of a particular community.
Key issues
Community-based crime prevention - the key to effective crime reduction
South Africa's National Crime Prevention Strategy (NCPS) has played an important role in highlighting the importance of addressing crime at the local level. Internationally, community-led crime prevention initiatives have proven to be very successful, and a similar approach needs to be adopted in order to reduce crime in South Africa. For this reason, the Department of Safety and Security initiated the production of a manual that will assist in the process of community-based crime prevention and will provide guidance for the development and implementation of local-level crime prevention strategies.
Developing a local crime prevention strategy - how this manual will assist
Government policy and legislation urge local government to take the lead in implementing crime prevention programmes. Local government is often in the best position to co-ordinate the various role-players involved with such initiatives. However, more often than not local government does not have the resources or the expertise to fulfil this role. This manual provides all role-players - but local government in particular - with support to:
- approach local crime problems logically and systematically,
- develop and implement focus areas and programmes to address the needs identified, and
- evaluate these programmes to ensure that they are effective.
What is the manual about?
The manual is a handy reference guide that provides you with all the information you need to plan, develop, implement and monitor community-based crime prevention initiatives. The manual comprises two sections and addresses the following:
Issues to consider before developing a crime prevention strategy
- What is crime prevention? Why do we need a community crime prevention strategy?
- What is expected in terms of the latest government policies and legislation?
- Who should take the lead? The role of local government.
- Resourcing and financing your strategy.
- Partnerships: the key to structuring crime prevention
- Communication and community participation.
How to plan and implement a crime prevention strategy - a step-by-step guide
- A local safety audit to identify problems and understand your community.
- Developing a strategy.
- Implementing the strategy
- Monitoring and evaluating the strategy.
What is a community crime prevention strategy?
- An action plan to prevent crime and reduce public fear of crime.
- A tool to bring together different role-players involved in crime prevention.
- A means for developing local crime prevention partnerships.
- A method to ensure coordination and management of crime prevention initiatives.
- A way to identify priority areas and tasks.
Current status and way forward
The Making South Africa Safe manual will be distributed throughout the country during the second half of 2000. A programme to assist with the rollout of the manual will implemented by the Department of Safety and Security.
Stakeholders
SAPS Crime Prevention Division
Philip Nel
Institute for Security Studies
Antoinette Louw
Contact details
Tinus Kruger
Tel: (012) 841 2595
Fax: (012) 841 3400
Email: dkruger@csir.co.za
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