Hundreds Throng Botswana Police Day Celebrations
Sharon Mathala | Monday August 4, 2014 14:45
Today’s police service has e evolved from three infant forces, namely; the Bechuanaland Mounted Police in 1884, Bechuanaland Border Police in 1885 and Bechuanaland Protectorate Police in 1902. Eventually the name changed to Botswana Police Force in 1966 until it was rebranded to BPS in 1997.
The celebration, held under the theme ‘Turning policing challenges into opportunities towards 2016’, was attended by dignitaries amongst them Minister of Defence, Justice and Security Dikgakgamatso Seretse. Also the Lesotho’s Commissioner of Police Kizito Mhlakaza, Swaziland Commissioner of Police Isaac Magagula, and Directorate of Intelligence Services Director Isaac Kgosi attended.
BPS spokesperson Assistant Commissioner, Christopher Mbulawa said although the service has its own challenges, they have been able to overcome most of them to better serve Batswana.
Mbulawa said road accidents top the list of challenges faced by them. “On average, we loose about 400 lives per year due to fatal road accidents. Even though last year armed robberies were more dominant, road accidents topped the list. In order to help reduce such cases, the BPS saw it fit to introduce booze buses, which have helped a great deal in monitoring the situation,” he said.
Mbulawa pointed out that BPS has recently embarked on an effort to forge working relationships between themselves and members of the public develop working relationships. This effort, he says, which has contributed to some reduced crime statistics.
“We have managed to bring the police and members of the public together. This move has since helped with investigations as now individuals are willing to call in and assist the police with any information that may help with investigations of a particular case,” he said.
One of the attendees, Boineelo Kgosietsile, who came with her family and friends said she attended the event to get first hand information from the police on how they operate. She told The Monitor that she applauds the BPS for their continuous efforts to curb crime in the country.
“This is my first time attending the police day celebrations. I heard about it through the radio and developed an interest in the event. I have not had problems with the service at police stations. I once reported a case of theft to them and the officers were very helpful,” she said.
The BPS has grown steadily over the years with manpower of 734 policemen and 42 police stations in 1966 to 3,206 police officers by 1989 - female police officers were first recruited in 1971.
Currently the BPS has 78 police stations, 350 police posts, 16 police districts, 15 branches and four police divisions.