South African policing is entering a period of significant change, with renewed attention to leadership, accountability, operational effectiveness and the role of evidence in decision making. This creates an important opportunity to move from commitment to practical action – identifying what should be done differently, how it can be implemented, and how results can be measured.
The 2026 Evidence-Based Policing South Africa Conference will bring together police and criminal justice practitioners, government officials, researchers and civil society experts to examine practical responses to major policing challenges. Discussions will consider what could realistically be tried, who needs to lead implementation, and how progress and impact could be assessed.
Conference themes
Day 1:
- Leadership and transformative change in South African policing
- Strengthening the criminal justice process from arrest to conviction
- Embedding evidence-based hotspot policing
Day 2:
- Setting expectations and measuring the results of military deployments in response to crime
- Disrupting extortion in township economies
- Role of police in holistic violence prevention
The detailed programme and speakers will be announced as they are confirmed.
Register to attend in person in Cape Town or online.
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