14 Apr 2020

Botswana Police Service has launched a toll free number aimed at helping Gender Based Violence (GBV) victims.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Deputy Commissioner Dinah Marathe said the toll free number, 0800 600 144, was meant to widen scope and accessibility for GBV victims to report cases.

She said the toll free number would hopefully reduce victim stigmatisation as well as enhance trust and confidentiality.

Ms Marathe further said it would also help them to monitor the number of clients reporting such cases.

The police chief warned that all those who would abuse the number would face the wrath of the law.

She said despite the fact that GBV cases were declining, there was a trend showing that GBV reports were mostly from households, unlike in the past where such reports emanated from drinking sprees.

Furthermore, she said the police were disappointed that since the lockdown, they had been receiving a lot of GBV cases.

“From March 23 to 29 this year we registered two murder cases, 24 armed robberies, two threats to kill, 31 defilement and four indecent assault cases across the country. These crimes were committed within seven days,” she highlighted.

Ms Marathe said from March 30 to April 5 they recorded two murder cases, 22 rape cases, one threat to kill and 23 cases of defilement.

She said what was disturbing was the fact that out of the cases, seven involved children under the age of 13, who were abused by their fathers, stepfathers and cousins.

She said they had also recognised that the levels, types and complexity of such crimes were partly caused by socio-economic and cultural factors, adding that it required the police to partner with communities to combat the social ills. END