Technology and crime prevention: Integrating technologies to support community safety in Tshwane, South Africa

Abstract

With over 2,1 million crimes reported in South Africa annually, the country ranks amongst the highest in the world with regards to the number of crimes reported per annum. The negative economic impact of crime, trauma, reduced quality of live and social implications in South Africa are to a large extend immeasurable, yet crippling. The high levels of crime in South Africa could be accredited to various elements such as deteriorating moral and ethical standards in society, lack of leadership, social and economic inequalities, poverty, unemployment, deteriorating infrastructure, inadequate systems and ineffective law enforcement. The Tshwane metropolitan area faces all these challenges and are constantly battling to address them in ominous political and economic conditions. One of the mechanisms to prevent crime is effective law enforcement. This includes the availability of resources, reliable information and proper management. These information systems and technologies, if integrated, could provide reliable information which will assist authorities to successfully prevent crime. The question thus arises whether these technologies exist and whether these technologies can be integrated? These questions are answered by means of a literature study, case studies and semi-structured expert interviews. Numerous technologies which can be integrated does exist in Tshwane. Further, given sufficient budgets and proper government policy direction and implementation for collaboration, community safety could drastically be improved.