African Policing Civilian Oversight Forum

Founded in 2004, African Policing Civilian Oversight Forum is a non-governmental organisation based in Mowbray, South Africa working on justice & legal aid, human rights, democracy & civil society.

The African Policing Civilian Oversight Forum (APCOF) is a not-for-profit trust based in South Africa that works on police accountability and governance across Africa. It was established in 2004 as a coalition of police oversight bodies and practitioners, registered in 2006 as a not-for-profit company, and reregistered as a trust in 2012. APCOF promotes civilian oversight of policing and aims to restore public confidence, develop a culture of human rights, promote integrity and transparency within police, and build good relations between police and communities. Its theory of change targets political support for police accountability, improved capacity for oversight among state, internal police and civil society actors, and a community of practitioners. The organisation works through a small secretariat and a network of partners across the continent, and publishes research on policing, pre-trial detention, arrest, and police oversight bodies.