A new initiative by the Ministry of Defence and Security in collaboration with the Botswana Police Service (BPS), known as City Policing, is not intended to address petty crimes but rather to tackle more serious offenses that pose a significant threat to public safety.
This was revealed by Gaborone Central police station commander, Superintendent Sharpson Mbuso, who said the primary objective of the innovative policing is to focus on major crimes. “City Police{cing} is here to focus on major crimes like heists, burglary, drug abuse and trafficking,” he told Mmegi Online. “Our mandate is to thoroughly deal with crime and bring peace to the public." Mbuso noted that there has been a noticeable decrease in the crime rate in the city since the launch of City Police Unit in December 2023. He expressed confidence that the presence of City Police has had a positive impact on public safety and security.
“Even though I can't show through statistics at the moment, the crime rate in the city has gone down since the launch of City Police,” he added. Although the initiative has been operational for five weeks now, Mbuso highlighted the commitment of the BPS in making it successful. He underscored the collaborative efforts of the Ministry of Defence and Security and the BPS in implementing this initiative to address major crime effectively. Mbuso emphasized that the City Police is committed to engaging with the community and building trust with the public. He highlighted the importance of collaboration between law enforcement and the community to effectively reduce crime and maintain public safety.
The Superintendent also said the presence of City Police is aimed at protecting the general public and creating a safer environment in the cities and towns. "The public shouldn't be afraid of City Police as it is here to protect them and bring peace, which is its mandate."
