16 Feb 2022

An increase of 16.5 per cent in crime rate has been recorded in 2021 compared to a sharp decline of 22.8 per cent registered the previous year.

The 2021 increase could to some extent be attributed to the subsequent lifting of most of COVID-19 restrictions whilst the decline in crime rate in 2020 was possibly due to COVID-19 movement restrictions.

Speaking during the Botswana Police Senior Officers annual conference, Police Commissioner, Mr Keabetswe Makgophe said offence against property recorded an increase ranging between 12 per cent and 21 per cent, with robbery cases similarly increasing by 18.6 per cent.

Mr Makgophe said Botswana for the first time experienced a spate of armed robbery targeting cash in transit vehicles, and it was apparent from the method of operation that local criminals colluded with foreign criminals in executing criminal acts.

A significant increase of 23.5 per cent, he said was also recorded in gender based violence related crimes including murder, with rape cases increasing by 10 per cent, defilement cases increasing by 11 per cent and threat to kill cases by 16 per cent.

He said the perpetrators of these crimes were mostly male partners, close relatives and acquaintances who targeted women and children.

He stated that traffic violations registered an 18.1 per cent increase in 2021 as compared to 2020, with speeding, driving without license and careless driving emerging as leading violations.

“We have also lost 413 lives on our roads in 2021 as compared to 325 in 2020, which translates to 27.7 per cent increase,” he said.

Mr Makgophe stated that road safety remained a law enforcement priority, thus BPS continued to target behavioural risk factors such as drunken driving , speeding and fatigue which were considered major contributors to road accidents in Botswana.

He further said BPS was alive to government reforms, adding that transforming Botswana from a middle to a high income, required a police organisation that was adaptive and responsive to change.

In this regard, he said BPS had aligned its Annual Policing Plans(APPs) to government Reset Agenda.

He noted that the BPS in its commitment to promote international collaboration, subscribed and maintained active membership in key security organs with regional and international crime fighting organs such as the Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation (SARPCCO).

With regard to issues of welfare and conditions of service, Mr Makgophe appreciated government commitment towards issues of employee welfare amid resource limitations and other competing demands. Ends