‘Community plays major role in fight against crime’
Pini Bothoko | Tuesday August 22, 2023 06:00
Director of Operations in the Botswana Police Service (BPS), Senior Assistant Commissioner Katlholo Mosimanegape shared this insights during a recent crime prevention seminar held in Gaborone.
Crime prevention committees from District No.3 and District No.13, which cover Mogoditshane and surrounding villages, gathered for the seminar. This initiative, which dates back to the 1980s, has evolved into one of the key crime prevention strategies for the BPS. Different sectors of the community have embraced it, and the BPS is continuously refining its strategy to keep up with changing crime trends.
In his address to the committees, Mosimanegape expressed gratitude for the efforts of community policing committees in making their neighbourhoods safer. He emphasised the ongoing collaboration between the police and the community, highlighting their shared goal of ensuring the safety and security of citizens and residents.
He noted the expansion and success of the community policing strategy throughout Botswana. “The crime prevention committees gathered here to review and enhance their existing crime prevention programmes as well as to draw new ones to counteract problematic crime in their localities,” Mosimanegape said.
“We intend to strengthen our collaboration with the community as this will definitely result in the revival of crime prevention initiatives such as neighbourhood watch schemes, business watch forums and youth outreach programmes.” He encouraged participants to take advantage of the opportunity to create proactive, collaborative efforts that promote safety within their communities.
Mosimanegape pointed out the rise in crimes such as housebreaking in the area, stressing the importance of effective community policing strategies to tackle such issues. “The community plays a major role in the fight against crime as they do not only augment our numbers but also provide resources that are useful in crime prevention,” he shared.
He mentioned that the BPS is aligning with the government's mindset change agenda by revamping its processes for better productivity and service delivery. Mosimanegape believes that continuous engagement through workshops and seminars will motivate people to actively and meaningfully participate in crime prevention activities. He stated that community policing has led to improved interactions between the police and the community. This mutual understanding, he added, is fundamental to any effective crime-fighting strategy.