The Centre of Criminology
Africa focused, globally engaged
The Centre of Criminology (formerly known as the Institute of Criminology) is a research unit linked to the Department of Public Law, Faculty of Law at the University of Cape Town. The Centre aims to initiate, co-ordinate and develop research and extension services in the broad field of criminology, and to promote public interest in all aspects of criminology. Since 2007 the core focus has become that of African Security and Justice.
The African Security and Justice Programme is an African focused and globally engaged theoretically oriented teaching and research programme funded by the South African National Research Foundation (NRF) Chair of Security and Justice as well as other funders. The South African National Research Foundation (NRF) Chair of Security and Justice, a South African Research Chairs Initiative of the Department of Science and Technology and the NRF is hosted by the Law Faculty at the University of Cape Town. Professor Clifford Shearing, Director of the Centre, holds the chair.
Current research in the Centre focuses on two main areas in criminology which are physical security and environmental security. The Physical Security Programme has two major areas of enquiry which are the Police Reform project and the Plural Policing Project.
The Physical Security Programme has two major areas of enquiry:
- The Police Reform project focuses on issues relating to the reform of the public police in Africa more generally and Southern Africa more specifically. The research aims to contribute to the development of African police studies by coming to terms with the state of the public police in Africa; the policy frameworks in terms of which police reform is articulated, and the structural constraints confronting such reform. A deliberate attempt is also made to situate the discussion on police reform in the crime context by exploring the challenges confronting the police's role in crime control and crime prevention in Africa.
- The Plural Policing Project explores emerging institutions of polycentric governance, both for delivering security governance and for governance accountability. The Project aims to identify, test and reflect upon alternative approaches to the provision or improvement of urban security in the South African context.
Environmental Security research explores emerging institutions of polycentric governance for mitigation of and adaptation to climate change. Supporting and Sustaining New Economies is a programme funded by the Embassy of Finland. The programme considers ways in which the knowledge and capacities of poor constituencies can be mobilized in responding to climate change.