BPS records 7% reduction in violent crime

LEKOPANYE MOOKETSI
Correspondent | Monday June 21, 2010 00:00

Tsimako made these remarks during a press conference at the end of the senior officer's conference held in Gaborone on Friday.  He said the Botswana police have not been doing badly in their fight against crime. He said since last year, they have been targeting violent and intrusive offences.

'In the past year, we were committed to tackling crime head on,' he said. He revealed that there has been a reduction in these offences by seven percent. He said initially they had aimed to reduce the crime by five percent.

'We believed we performed reasonably well. But we believe we can perform better than that,' he said. As for penal code offences, he said, they went up by one percent. 'We believe one percent shows determination on our part,' the commissioner declared. 

He said other areas of concern include road fatalities. 'We are not happy about the road fatalities,' he said. Thebeyame appealed to motorists to drive responsibly even in the absence of police.  He said in some countries, motorists drive well whether the police are there or not.

As for the alarming rate of missing persons, Tsimako said they do all they can to find such persons and while some of these people are found alive there are others who are discovered when they have died. 

As for improving the conditions of service for police officers, Tsimako said it would not be possible at the moment due to the current economic meltdown. 

Meanwhile, one of the resolutions at the senior officers' conference, is to intensify intelligence led and focused patrols. The BPS will also reinforce the use of specialised investigation teams.

A statement prepared at the conference stated that another resolution is to strengthen traffic law enforcement mechanisms.

'The BPS notes with concern the fatalities on the roads due to accidents,' the statement notes.

In response to the alarming number of minor road accidents, it was resolved that the Policy of Minor Road Accidents be implemented.

The conference appreciated that the tourism sector is vital in the diversification of the country's economy.

Consequently, the conference resolved to equip officers with skills to police in the tourism environment.

Concerned about the risks involved with the large amount of monetary exhibits entrusted on commanders, it was resolved to appoint a task team to explore further the possibility of depositing funds with the Accountant General, pending completion of cases.

Considering strides made in the management of corporate targeted offences, the conference welcomed the reduction realised thereto and resolved to reinforce existing strategies geared towards addressing these types of crimes. 

The also resolved to further formulate and implement social intervention strategies to address non corporate but serious crimes.

The conference also resolved that an exercise be undertaken to determine the criteria for identifying policing areas that require the establishment of satellite police stations for effective policing.

Consequent to the merger between BPS and the Local Police, the conference resolved that division commanders identify and come up with suggestions on establishment of satellite police stations and their resourcing levels.

The statement said the BPS appreciates contributions made by members of the public through community policing strategies including cluster policing in the fight against crime. 

The conference then resolved to enhance the collaboration with different stakeholders.