08 May 2025

The Botswana Police Service (BPS)anticipates to wrap up the process of converting special constables into regular police officers next year.

It is expected that 846 special constables will, starting June, undergo pre-service training Police Commissioner, Ms Dinah Marathe said during the 51st Botswana Police Senior Officers Annual Conference in Gaborone Tuesday. 

Meanwhile, the conference is an annual gathering attended by police commanders, to professionalise policing services by reviewing and aligning policing strategies and programmes to address contemporary public security challenge, which Ms Marathe said were committed to resolve through strengthening community policing platforms, re-engineering and simplifying key processes to be more customer and business friendly.

By leveraging on technology and innovation, Ms Marathe said the BPS would endevour to create a peaceful environment for foreign direct investment and economic progress and prosperity thus appealing to government, to resource them in the interest of meeting modern day demands on public security.

She said commitment to service had translated into positive results as demonstrated by effective crime management and overall peace.

“Delivering effective policing services shall always be our priority,” said Ms Marathe and shared that there had been an overall reduction of eight per cent in total crime between 2023 and 2024.

“Despite this notable performance, our immediate concern is the harrowing level of violence and brutality displayed in the commission of certain crimes such as rape, murder, and robbery,” she said.

Commissioner Marathe said BPS continued to employ crime counter strategies and programmes with positive impact such as community policing, a collaborative approach involving the participation of communities and stakeholders in crime prevention.

She said the law enforcement was complemented by special task force operations and inter agency collaboration to strengthen crime detection.

Additionally, she said the police also embraced law enforcement technology to enhance crime detection and investigation as well as public education campaigns to sensitise communities on crime and its impact.

As part of the global community, she said the BPS had been impacted by the realities and ramifications of transnational organised crimes such as cybercrime, money laundering, human trafficking, drug trafficking and the threat of terrorism.

“The country has been exposed to cyber threats in the form of digital fraud, mobile money fraud, cyber bullying and ransomware attacks,” said Ms Marathe adding that a coordinated approach was necessary to police the cyber space.

“We will in this regard continue to strengthen our response by enhancing our cyber security capacity and capability, enforcing the relevant legislation and proposing reviews as relevant, and strengthening inter-agency collaboration and public education,” she said.  ENDS