No plan to arm patrol police
Pini Bothoko | Monday May 30, 2022 09:13
Ramakorwane stated that even though the streets are full of arms and ammunition, Botswana Police Service (BPS) has not yet found it necessary to equip police officers with guns during patrols.
He made the remarks when responding to a question raised by Nata/Gweta Member of Parliament (MP) and member of the Public Accounts Committee, Polson Majaga.
Majaga had wanted to know if there are any plans to provide police officers with guns during patrols in response to rising crime incidents that threaten the country’s economy.
Despite sharing the same sentiments as the legislator of the service being overwhelmed with organised crime that remains a threat to the country’s national security there are no plans as yet for police officers to be armed during patrols. Ramakorwane conceded that they continue to recover arms of war from armed robbery suspects who could be involved in different types of crime, especially money heists.
“Despite being overwhelmed with organised crime incidents, we believe that crime in Botswana is still under control but we have not made it a provision for Special Support Group (SSG) to be armed during patrols,” he said.
However, Ramakorwane revealed that when police officers have to attend reports of people who are believed to be armed with weapons of war, they are provided with guns which they can use when necessary and returned thereafter.
He further explained that all police stations across the country have readily available guns to be used when necessary.
Ramakorwane stated that the infiltration of these arms of war is worrying, as it has now placed the public in fear because they are not just ordinary guns, but arms of war mostly pistols and AK47s.
“This is a serious concern, but we are not folding our arms. We have since established that some hardcore criminals are believed to be renting out these weapons of war to robbers, commit crimes and later return them. Efforts are in place to locate and crack these syndicates,” he said.
On a different matter, Ramakorwane further disclosed that this financial year BPS will absorb 900 Special Constables after they were offered 1,000 spaces by the government.
Of the 1,000 spaces, he stated that since the majority of the youth is facing unemployment they have reserved 100 of those to absorb other Batswana, especially those with specialised skills.
Moreover, Ramakorwane said there are considerations for Special Constables not to undergo another interview to be absorbed for recruitment at Botswana Police College because of the previous interview.
“We will be moving forward to only do medical tests before recruitment. As for the age limit, there are no changes as yet despite acknowledging that there are issues of age surrounding our recruitment. Only officers who are less than the age of 35 will be absorbed for recruitment. However, officers who have proven themselves to be hardworking in such situations could be looked into,” he said.