21 May 2018

Botswana is still a relatively safe country, says Botswana Police Commissioner, Mr Keabetswe Makgophe.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the Botswana Police Service 46th senior officers annual conference themed: Towards safer and secure communities; 2018 and beyond, Mr Makgophe said to continue keeping Botswana safe, the conference resolved to continue upholding fundamental human rights and commitment towards providing services to the public by adopting zero tolerance to human rights violations in the execution of the police mandate.
The five-day forum, which ran from May 14 to 18, was meant to review policing strategies with a view to come up with more relevant and innovative interventions geared towards tackling contemporary and emerging crime.

Delegates comprising senior police officers of the ranks of Senior Superintendent and above attended the conference, which also resolved to continue upholding fundamental human rights and commitment towards providing excellent service to the public.

Presenting a media statement on the conference’s resolutions, Botswana Police Service Assistant Commissioner and public relations officer, Mr Dipheko Motube said the conference resolved to capacitate all police operatives on cybercrime prevention and investigation, and to conduct public education to promote awareness in cybercrime.

This, Mr Motube said, was meant to curb the increase in abuse of cyberspace.

“The conference noted with concern the continuing prevalence of Gender Based Violence (GBV), especially murder and rape, and acknowledges that these are societal issues that call for joint intervention of all stakeholders,” he added.

In noting the reluctance of male victims to report GBV, he said the forum also resolved to engage stakeholders and civil society to leverage a multi-sectoral approach, mobilise the male population to fight against GBV, create a conducive environment for male victims of GBV and intensify public education on GBV.

Furthermore, Mr Motube said due to loss of lives as a result of traffic accidents, law enforcement on speeding, drunken driving and use of mobile phones whilst driving would be intensified through the implementation of targeted traffic law enforcement activities. He also said there would be an increase of deployment during weekends, month end and public holidays.

The conference also resolved to embark on a vigorous pedestrian education campaign through road safety and engage relevant stakeholders to promote scholar patrols in accident prone areas as well as to broaden road safety awareness through community policing clusters.

To address the trend where some commercial entities contribute to the escalation of stock theft, the police public relations officer said dedicated anti-stock theft teams would be formed to intensify ground and aerial surveillance at cattle posts.

To support investigations of stock theft cases, Mr Motube said the forum resolved to employ scientific methods, intensify the engagement of relevant stakeholders with a view to revoke trading licenses of those convicted of stock theft or related offences and engage Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security on potential risks associate with the various livestock management systems.

Furthermore, he said parallel investigations would also be conducted to confiscate proceeds accumulated through stock theft and related crimes profits, as per the Proceeds and Instruments of Crime Act (No. 28 of 2014). BOPA