30 May 2019

Number 10 district policing area has experienced an increase in serious crimes.

This was revealed by Officer Commanding No.10 District Mr Bonosi Molapisi during the district’s first cluster awards held in Selebi Phikwe recently.The district comprises of Selebi Phikwe, Botshabelo, Bobonong, Semolale and Baines Drift police stations.

Mr Molapisi therefore urged the police and other stakeholders to come up with innovative strategies to curb serious crime.

He noted that rape rose by 13.5 per cent, house breaking and theft by 17.2 per cent, while habit forming drugs increased by 102 per cent, revealing that the district had a serious problem of marijuana.

He said defilement and stock theft also posed a serious challenge to the district, particularly in Mabolwe, Semolale and Gobojango.

This, he urged called for the police, clusters, stakeholders as well as members of the community to join hands in fighting crime in the district.

However, Mr Molapisi commended the district for achievements made in reducing crime, revealing that burglary and theft decreased by 21 per cent, exceeding the six per cent target.

He also commended the police for having not recorded any vehicle theft offence in the past two years, adding “our stakeholders such as Botswana Defence Force have contributed significantly towards this achievement,” he said.

He requested cluster policing members to extend their service to the roads to enhance road safety as well as the nation’s security.

The police are yet to hold campaigns against assault and physical abuse, anti-theft seminar, home security seminar, anti-drug and substance abuse campaign as well as home security expo, he said.

For his part, the Deputy District Commissioner for Selebi Phikwe, Mr Mokgethi Nfila applauded cluster members and dikgosi for being in the forefront in ensuring safety and security of their communities.

He said the award ceremony was not a competition, but an opportunity to share ideas on how to make the streets safer.

He said the country was facing a fast growing number of crime trends. The increase in crime levels, particularly house breaking and theft, rape, habit forming drugs and stock theft, is a serious concern in the district, Mr Nfila said.

“We need to come up with strategies that will help to curb this escalating crime which has by now left many people in state of poverty,” he stressed.

He said the involvement of the community in the fight against crime through clusters was commendable and would go a long way in making the country a safety hub and an attractive destination for investment.

The cluster policing members were awarded based on community commitment and best practice.

The Community Commitment Award went to clusters that had excelled in the mobilisation of the community through a number of strategies to address crime and social issues.

Nine clusters scooped first position in community commitment namely Mabolwe, Mothabaneng, Tobane, Botshabelo South, Tshokwe, Botshabelo North, Botshabelo East, Botshabelo West and Selemachindo.

Best practice award was awarded to recognise clusters that excelled in the achievement of set targets through innovative strategies. ENDs