The media is full of news items and comments about the crime situation in South Africa and the poor service delivery by the different safety and security structures.  This includes the South African Police Service (SAPS), Metropolitan Police, traffic police and even the private security companies. AfricaScope believes that the poor service delivery by these structures is because citizens are not holding them accountable.  However, to be able to hold them accountable existing institutional structures such as the Community Police Forums (CPF) need to be empowered by providing them with relevant information on key safety and security indicators.  For example, visibility of police and their reaction time to crime incidents could be just two of these indicators.  By having this information the CPFs will be able to engage with the safety and security structures and develop agreements with them that will enable them to hold them accountable.  For this to be accomplished AfricaScope believes that a Citizen Report Card on safety and security is needed. (Author – Craig Schwabe )