The document discusses the Crime and Justice Information and Analysis Hub run by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) in South Africa. The ISS is a non-governmental policy research institute that aims to contribute to a stable, peaceful and secure Africa. The Crime Hub was created to improve transparency around crime and safety governance by providing a centralized source of information, analysis and data on crime trends, criminal justice and related issues. Over the past three years, the Hub has worked to disseminate statistics, research and policy briefs. However, it faces ongoing challenges around data gaps, coordination with government, and improving the interactivity of its website to better analyze and share information.

1. www.issafrica.org
The Crime and JusticeThe Crime and Justice
Information and Analysis HubInformation and Analysis Hub
Lizette Lancaster
Institute for Security Studies
27 June 2013
1

2. www.issafrica.org 2
OverviewOverview
www.issafrica.org/crimehub
• Background
• SA Crime Situation
• Crime Hub Objective
• Focus Areas
• Analysis and Information types
• Crime Hub Online
• Lessons Learnt
• Ongoing Challenges
• Year Three Challenges
• New Developments

3. www.issafrica.org 3
BackgroundBackground
www.issafrica.org/crimehub
Institute for Security Studies (ISS) is an African non-
governmental policy research institute. Our work is aimed
at contributing to a stable and peaceful Africa
characterised by sustainable development, human rights,
the rule of law, democracy and collaborative security.
The Governance, Crime and Justice Division (GCJ) of
the ISS works to inform and influence policy and public
discourse on issues relating to governance, corruption,
crime, its prevention and criminal justice. This is done by
conducting research, analysing policy, disseminating
information and providing expertise as a contribution
towards a safer and secure society.

4. www.issafrica.org
Crime Trends in South AfricaCrime Trends in South Africa
1994/95 to 2011/20121994/95 to 2011/2012
4

5. www.issafrica.org 5
Objective of the Crime HubObjective of the Crime Hub
(Crime and Justice information(Crime and Justice information
and Analysis Hub)and Analysis Hub)
www.issafrica.org/crimehub
The objective of the hub is to improve
transparency and accountability in relation to
crime and safety governance by providing a
user-friendly, one-stop interactive source of
information and analysis on crime, its
prevention and the functioning of the criminal
justice system in South Africa.

6. www.issafrica.org 6
Focus AreasFocus Areas
www.issafrica.org/crimehub

7. www.issafrica.org
Types of Analysis & informationTypes of Analysis & information
7
www.issafrica.org/crimehub
• Statistics in different formats
e.g. tables, graphs, maps, profiles, databases
• Data-mining of available surveys, data and information
• Qualitative and quantitative research
• Articles, policy briefs, seminars and podcasts to
disseminate data analysis
• Ad hoc responses to data requests from
government, media and community requests
• Often asked to comment on policy implications
• Practice and Policy: Advisory role on several reference
committees of government oversight bodies to link
analysis to policy.

8. www.issafrica.org 8
www.issafrica.org/crimehub

9. www.issafrica.org 9
Lessons Learnt
www.issafrica.org/crimehub
1. Need practical, implementable and sustainable vision
2. Need dedicated team of experts
3. Need a sufficient multi-year budget
4. Sustainability: capacity, budget and IT infrastructure
5. Networking and information sharing is critical
6. The credible and responsible packaging of information
is an ongoing challenge
7. Website/technology development is ongoing
8. Balance between available technology and end-user
realities such as slow internet and old versions of
browsers
9. Creativity is required to make complex data and
issues accessible

10. www.issafrica.org 10
Ongoing Challenges
www.issafrica.org/crimehub
1. Dealing with data gaps e.g. disaggregated and timely
data
2. Disjointed and impractical public sector performance
indicators and data sources
3. Finances and capacity to collect data especially
empirical and survey data
4. Systematic methods of data collection and analysis
are time-consuming
5. Verification processes are critical and time-consuming
6. Cooperation from government departments and other
research institutions
7. How to make information and data available to whom?

11. www.issafrica.org 11
Year Three Challenges
www.issafrica.org/crimehub
1. Original design is not interactive enough
2. Original web developers do not have the know-how
and innovation to develop site further
3. Original technical design make uploads difficult
4. Time and capacity to do required design, research,
validation, analysis, and data uploads
5. Mapping and interactive components need to be
updated and census data incorporated but different
units of analysis
6. New components will be added as needs identified e.g.
public violence mapping incorporating crowdsourcing
software ahead of 2014 elections

12. www.issafrica.org
NewNew
DevelopmentDevelopment
1.1. New WebsiteNew Website
2.2. More responsivenessMore responsiveness
3.3. Mobile FriendlyMobile Friendly
4.4. Incorporate moreIncorporate more
statistics and multi-mediastatistics and multi-media
5.5. Improved advancedImproved advanced
viewerviewer
6.6. Public violence data basePublic violence data base
and monitoringand monitoring
7.7. Public violence maps andPublic violence maps and
online reportingonline reporting
8.8. More community dataMore community data
9.9. Enhanced social mediaEnhanced social media
12
www.issafrica.org

13. www.issafrica.org 13
: www.issafrica.org/crimehub: www.issafrica.org/crimehub
: +27 12 346 9500: +27 12 346 9500
:: llancaster@issafrica.orgllancaster@issafrica.org