12 May 2022

The police have developed a rapid response mechanism for cash-in-transit robberies targeting the financial sector,  Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Defence and Security, Ms Botlhale Makgekgenene has said.

Ms Makgekgenene, was  responding to questions from BOPA, regarding the emerging trend of robberies targeting the banking sector.

“Botswana Police Service continues to deploy requisite expertise in different fields within the organisation to enhance efficiency,” she said.

 In addition, Ms Makgekgenene said, the police relied on partnership with the community and collaboration with other stakeholders to tackle all types of crimes.

 Regarding usage of illegal firearms, she said the usage in criminal activities was minimal, adding that illegal firearms were used in incidents such as robberies targeting cash-in-transit vehicles and businesses.

 “Preliminary investigations indicated that locals collude with foreigners to commit these criminal acts,” she stated.

 To address such, she said, the police had built a strong partnership with various stakeholders to facilitate the prevention, detection and investigation of transnational organised crime in coordination and collaboration with regional and international institutions.

She added that the police also promoted, strengthened and fostered joint strategies for the management of all cross border crimes.

Ms Makgekgenene said Botswana was a signatory to international instruments such as the SADC protocol on the control of firearms, ammunition and other related materials and the arms trade treaty which guided on the control management of arms and ammunition.

 In addition, she said the government was fully committed to resourcing the police to combat  crime.

 Furthermore, she noted violent and intrusive crimes such as house break-in, burglary, store breaking and robbery, as well as serious crimes such as murder, rape, defilement, threat to kill, theft of motor vehicle and stock theft, were a challenge to the country.

 Nonetheless, she said, there had been greater police visibility and accessibility, which had proved to be essential in deterring crime.

 Ms Makgekgenene said other interventions included  deployment of patrol teams at crime hotspots and leveraging  technology and the involvement of the community in policing.

“The community policing process enables the participation of communities in policing, ranging from providing information and reassurance as well as the empowerment of communities to identify and implement solutions to local problems”. Ends