18 Mar 2020

 Tutume police and community collaboration has resulted in the reduction of murder cases in the policing area.

 Speaking in an interview, March 17, Tutume police station commander Superintendent Jerry Halahala said the area had over the past two years been besieged by high numbers of murder and suicide cases.

 In 2018 alone, the area recorded 11 cases of murder and 12 suicides, he said.

 Superintendent Halahala said after police roped in the community as well as the leadership, murder cases dropped to three and suicide five in 2019.

He said while some cases were committed by illegal immigrants who entered the country through ungazzetted points, many were committed by locals.

He said Batswana who  employed illegal aliens were the ones who often fell victim to crimes such as murder.

Some murders, he explained, were a result of beer depots and shebeen brawls.

He said dikgosi assisted by ensuring that illegal outlets were shut down and licensed ones adhered to stipulated operating times.

Supt Halahala said the formation of a police crime prevention committee in Tutume tasked with the revival of committees in the surrounding villages of Sebina to Maitengwe came in handy.

He said the development was instrumental in the apprehension of all but one suspect who was still at large.

Police are appealing to the community for information on the suspect’s whereabouts.

Supt Halahala said police had also partnered  with bye-law and immigration officers. Ends