Welcome to the INSTITUTE FOR POLICE AND SECURITY POLICY RESEARCH

OUR BACKGROUND

Police, Intelligence and Security Research

At the INSTITUTE FOR POLICE & SECURITY POLICY RESEARCH, we are keen to provide the tools to promote good governance in the police and security institutions across Africa as well as effective and efficient operational practices. Our initial base of operation and focus will be designated countries in Africa. But we are expanding as resources are made available to ALL Nations on the continent.

IPSPR aims to work to inform and improve policy and public discourse on national security, crime, corruption, its prevention and the functioning of the criminal justice system. We do this by conducting research, analysing policy, disseminating information and providing expertise as a contribution towards a safer and secure society.

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By nature, the police and security sectors of countries in Africa are usually secretive and research into these sectors tend to be difficult and done in silos. This is partly due to the confidential nature of their work, but unlike other parts of the world, the historical colonially detached and isolationist origins of security institutions in Africa has widened the gap between them and the people they are meant to protect.  

Some research tends to be done by internal training arms of these security agencies but an effective partnership does not seem to exist between these security institutions and external research organisations either within a university or standalone. The police, Intelligence agencies, the Judiciary & criminal justice sector and Military tend to be treated in isolation for research purposes when a joined-up and collaborative research effort will yield better outcomes for a cohesive security picture for each nation in Africa.

It is therefore time for a partnership to be established between these security agencies, the academia and industry practitioners for some overarching research-based solutions, operational and governance models to be developed for the benefit of individual nations. Best practice can also be easily exported and shared as well as joined up working for a Pan-African security cooperation in support of peace and stability on the continent. This is the vision that is driving the establishment of IPSPR.

We plan to work with national government security agencies and to facilitate them in improving operational standards, good governance, helping in maintaining peace and tranquillity of society. For this, methodical studies of endemic and emergent problems in the principles and practices of law enforcement policing, intelligence operations, maintaining homeland security, transnational security and trafficking, corruption and the criminal justice system and promotion of science and technology will be undertaken constantly. Reformation in correctional services and forensic sciences, being an integral part of the justice system will also be thoroughly researched. 

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So IPSPR will over time become :

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• The Leading organisation for nations in Africa to consult on police and security policies related matters.

• The subject area experts in Security (police, military and intelligence) related studies and idea generation in Africa.

• The Hub for security practitioners from all over the world to formulate policies and discuss matters that can benefit Africa.

• The Independent organisation called on by countries in Africa to help review security operations and conduct investigations and Enquires on security matters in ways that build public confidence in the outcomes of such exercise.

• The authoritative partner with the African Union and other sub-continental regional multinational bodies on developing Pan-African security solutions based on best practice and unique national identities and culture.