Palapye Volunteers Complain About Poor Police Service

Correspondent | Monday November 10, 2014 16:47

At a meeting held in the Palapye main Kgotla on Thursday, volunteers complained of the poor response from police officers since they relocated to the newly opened station.

They said holding suspects on the scene of crime for long periods often leads to criminals taunting them and the response they get from police is not encouraging. “Since the new police station opened, police officers are not responding urgently. They normally take long hours - like three hours- to show up at the scene -  therefore, I request some officers to be redeployed to the old police station,” requested Salome Mogano, a police volunteer from Boikago ward.

The volunteers said when they call the police station for assistance after they make arrests, they are told to seek help from the headmen in their respective wards. They said most of the offenses they handle are criminal matters which cannot be reported to the headmen.

They complained that when they report offences committed at shebeens, the police will refer them to the council by-law office. They said this has made their job difficult, and forces them to let perpetrators walk free. “When we call to report about unlawful shebeens, the police will refer us to the by-law office and then we will have no choice but to walk out,” complained Releseng Maboge from Serorome ward.

The volunteers complained about the passage ways in the village, saying they are frequently used by criminals to escape. In reply, Superintendent Waboraro Ramaja admitted to a shortage of transport in the office, which could be causing delays in responding to calls from volunteers. He was unaware of the officers who belittle police volunteers. He said the old Palapye station will be re-opened in due course.