06 Sep 2015

Shakawe police have held a workshop to foster ownership of cluster policing and fight against crime in partnership with the community.

Speaking at the workshop which was attended by different delegates, the deputy national crime prevention coordinator, Ms Irene Mokganya said the workshop aimed to help attendants understand how relations between the community and law enforcement officers could be strengthened through community policing strategies. 

She said the relationship allows both units to work as a team to deter criminal activity. She noted that the concept allows law enforcement officials to create a better rapport with citizens and to have an understanding of what was going on in the community. 

“The police are the public and the public are the police; the police being only members of the public who are paid to give full time attention to duties which are incumbent on every citizen in the interests of community welfare and existence.”

Ms Mokganya, who also gave a brief history of policing in the country, said it was critical for partners to conceive programmes that involved all stakeholders such as the neighbourhood watch programme, business watch, school outreach programme, out of school youth programme as well as anti-stock theft programmes.

She noted that the police could not control crime alone, adding that the community must have cooperation. She added that effective community policing requires teamwork.

For his part, Shakawe Station Commander, Superintendent Goitsemodimo Molapisi said the station has implemented an integrated crime control strategy that entails law enforcement by all policing through community involvement as well as collaboration with partners such as the business community.

Supt Molapisi also pointed out that they engage other enforcement agencies such as the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, and Botswana Defence Force (BDF) to curb illegal migration and importation of goods as well as anti-poaching strategies with the Department of Wildlife and National Parks.

He said the collaborations have impacted positively on crime control, adding that positive results were registered in serious crimes such as robberies, house breakings, burglaries, murder and theft of motor vehicles, livestock, rape and threat to kill.

He said crime statistics from January to August 2015 indicate a decrease in the number of such offences by 53 per cent compared to the same period last year.

“Even though we have realised a decrease, the crime recorded is a cause for concern and we are saying in partnership with you we could drastically reduce incidents of crime,” he added.

Supt Molapisi criticised government drivers, saying they lead with drunken driving instead of being good role models to the public. He also said human error continues to be a major source of accidents. Ends