Local Government and Crime Prevention
The role of local government in making their communities safer is gaining increasing importance in South Africa. While certainly not new, renewed efforts are being placed by provincial and national government in building the capacity of local government structures in identifying key safety concerns, and putting in place measures to address them. While undeniably facing huge challenges in terms of capacity, local government is also best placed to identify and respond to changing crime priorities within their jurisdiction, and to coordinate and mobilise a range of role players in developmental crime prevention strategies. There is substantial evidence that the most effective crime prevention interventions cut across the agencies and institutions found at local government level, such as community organisations, families, police, social services, and schools.

The CJCP is fully engaged with building the capacity of local government in South Africa to develop on their crime prevention mandate. Building on the success of the Certificate Course in Crime Prevention Management (see Training) offered in partnership with the University of Witwatersrand (WITS) School of Public and Development Management, the CJCP will from 2010 be offering a similar course, in partnership with the University of the Western Cape, on Local Government and Crime Prevention.

The CJCP also works closely with a number of provincial Departments of Community Safety and a number of municipalities and districts throughout the country to develop safety audits, plans and strategies for addressing crime at a local level. These consultancies are closely tied to the SAQA-accredited training, to ensure that capacity is build within the local structures to implement and manage the process following the completion of the CJCP mandate.