Maria David
THE Namibian Police Force recorded 110,551 criminal cases during the financial year 2023/24, according to NamPol Inspector-General Joseph Shikongo.
According to Shikongo, these crimes range from robbery, rape, and violence against women and children to other forms of domestic violence, murder, theft of motor vehicles and livestock, drug dealing, housebreaking, and theft.
Speaking during the official opening of the Namibian Police Force Senior Command Conference of 2024, which is being held in Ongwediva in the Oshana Region for five days, Shikongo said that the prevalence of crime in the country remains a matter of serious concern.
He indicated that most crimes were reported in the Khomas, Oshana, Otjozondjupa, and Erongo regions, with 32.5 percent, 11.3 percent, 8.3 percent, and 8 percent, respectively. The Kavango West, Kunene, and Omaheke regions were the least affected, with 1.5 percent, 3 percent, and 3 percent, respectively.
“It can be understood, however, that there are so many dynamics involved in influencing the level of crime in each region. Nonetheless, I strongly believe that the Senior Command Conference for this year has indeed come at the right time, when we need to revisit our strategies for combating crime,” he said.
He added, “Apart from crime, I must indicate that my office frequently receives complaints from some strata of our society that some police officers are delivering poor police service, particularly at some charge offices and investigation units.”
Shikongo said that some of these members tend to be self-appointed bosses who show no respect, politeness, friendliness, or compassion to their clients in providing policing services.
“We should, therefore, devise strategies to address these types of irresponsible conduct,” he added.
Shikongo also mentioned that budgetary constraints are affecting police operations, a situation caused by global dynamics affecting economic growth and revenue generation.
He said that they need to optimally utilize the limited resources allocated to the police to achieve maximum output in delivering policing services.
Hence, Shikongo said that during their five days of deliberations, they will consider issues hampering them in fighting crime and adopt resolutions that will enable them to address the root causes of criminal activity.
