Staff Reporter
A TOTAL of 98 640 criminal cases were reported countrywide during the 2021/2022 financial year, representing a crime rate increase of 7% from the previous financial year.
This was revealed by the Inspector General of the Namibian Police (NamPol), Joseph Shikongo, during the commemoration of the 32nd Anniversary of Police Day.
Shikongo explained that besides the total 98 640 criminal cases reported during this financial year, an additional 165 604 cases were carried over from previous financial years. This brought the total cases to 264 244 cases, of which 122 428, representing 46,3%, were cleared.
“I must emphasise that out of the 98,640 cases reported in 2021/22 financial year, Khomas, Oshana and Otjozondjupa regions have the highest crime rates, representing 32.8%, 10.7% and 8.6%, respectively; whereas, Kavango West, Kunene and Omaheke regions recorded the least cases representing 1.3%, 1.5%, and 2.9%, of the total reported cases respectively,” Shikongo revealed.
The reported cases, Shikongo said, include 10 631 housebreaking and theft cases, 4 783 gender-based violence (GBV) cases and 3 278 stock theft cases. These represent the majority of the serious crimes reported.
Shikongo also disclosed that 2 743 robberies with aggravating circumstances cases, 2 171 drug trafficking cases, 1 288 rape cases, 506 attempted murder cases, 389 vehicle theft cases, 324 murder cases, 249 cases of pointing a firearm, 246 arson cases and 11 human trafficking cases were also reported during 2021/2022.
“Despite the prevalence of crime, the Namibian Police Force also recorded a number of successes during the same financial year, which also contributed to the number of crimes recorded,” Shikongo added.
These successes, he said, include the detection and seizure of various illicit drugs as well as the interception of a number of trafficking in persons syndicates. In this regard, he revealed that 2 521 suspects, which includes 134 foreign nationals, were intercepted and arrested, and drugs worth N$41 419 413 were confiscated.
File photo for illustrative purposes only.
