13 Dec 2015

New police recruits have been warned against ignoring laws that they are mandated to enforce.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr Keabetswe Makgophe, made the warning during the pass-out parade of 169 recruit constables at Botswana Police College recently.

Mr Makgophe said police officers were subject to the same laws that they were mandated to enforce. “I therefore expect you to display impeccable discipline at all times because this organisation will never, under any circumstance tolerate acts of indiscipline,” he added.

As police officers interact with members of the public, he said there would be many temptations that involved behaviour bordering on corruption.

“Please, do not fall into this trap because the guaranteed punishment in this regard is dismissal or loss of job,” he stressed.

He said the police service is anchored on discipline and said without discipline it will be difficult to accomplish professional and goals in life.

Mr Makgophe said discipline is a core value which can compromise the reputation of the police service.

He noted that the recruits join the organisation during a time when crime is increasingly becoming diverse and more sophisticated due to modernisation and rapid advances in technology.

Mr Makgophe signaled drug trafficking, human trafficking, cybercrime and terrorism as some of the major law enforcement challenges confronting the global community.

As officers, he said the continued perpetration of these sophisticated crimes is a direct challenge on the effectiveness of the police strategy.

Therefore, he said there is need for continuous strengthening of collaborations and intelligence sharing capabilities.

“Investment in law enforcement technology is also a necessity rather than an option in our efforts,” he said.

Furthermore, he challenged the new recruits to initiate new and innovative ideas to combat crime.

Hence the police and other stakeholders have embarked on an intensified public education and law enforcement campaign called, 60 Days of Action on crime and road safety.

Mr Makgophe encouraged members of the public to heed their message as a way of protecting their property and life.

The pass-out parade comprised 169 police offices which were made of 50 females and 119 males. Ends