BPS promises new activities on Police Day

Sharon Mathala | Thursday July 30, 2015 10:20

The event will be held under the theme, ‘Turning Policing Challenges into Opportunities Towards 2016 and Beyond’.  On Tuesday, police spokesperson, Christopher Mbulawa told Mmegi that the popular event would be filled with exciting surprises.

“There are new activities that will be on display such as camel riding, unarmed combat and others. I will not say much at the moment but the public should come and see for themselves,” he said.

Mbulawa explained that Police Day is meant to create a platform where the public interacts with police officers. “On this day, Batswana get the chance to appreciate and learn more about their police service,” he said.  Police Day tracks its beginnings to the Bechuanaland Mounted Police formed in 1884, the Bechuanaland Border Police formed in 1885 and Bechuanaland Protectorate Police, which was established in 1902.

The name changed to Botswana Police Force in 1966, before being changed to the current Botswana Police Service in 1997. The BPS has grown steadily over the years from having manpower of 734 policemen in 1966 to 3,206 police officers by 1989. From 42 police stations in 1966, the Service today boasts 79 stations, a little over 300 police posts, 16 police districts, 15 branches and four police divisions. Female police officers were first recruited into the Service in 1971.