Maria David
THE Namibian Police Force (NamPol) Inspector General, Lieutenant General Joseph Shikongo, has advocated for a robust partnership between the police and the media as a crucial tool in the fight against crime across the country.
Shikongo was responding to a question from the media during the community engagement at Omuthiya on Wednesday.
According to Shikongo, the media plays a vital role in informing the public and holding institutions accountable.
He believes a strong collaborative relationship can significantly contribute to crime prevention and public safety.
“However, I also urge media practitioners to adhere to the appropriate channels of communication when seeking information from the police force,” he said.
He advised against directly approaching officers on the ground, suggesting that this could sometimes lead to miscommunication or unauthorized dissemination of information.
Acknowledging potential challenges in accessing information, Shikongo said he understands that some assigned officers may be unwilling to speak to the media, but his door is always open.
He stressed that this invitation aims to ensure the media has access to reliable and verified information through the appropriate leadership channels within NamPol.
