No room for privacy at Dutlwe’s oneroom police office
A worried Kgosi Martin Puleng of Dutlwe village in the Kweneng District wonders why Botswana Police Services (BPS) is failing to build a proper police office sub-station in his village.
A highly-worried Kgosi says the one-room which is found next to the Kgotla and being used by the police as an office does not give members of the community privacy to report crime.
Lack of privacy, he said, makes people shy away from reporting some criminal offences to the police hence crime will rise in the near future and his village will turn chaotic.
“Look at that small room, it is an office where the police sit and also where they get people’s statements. How can anybody be comfortable to give a statement in that room? Rape victims for
example, cannot openly talk when there is no privacy,” Puleng said.
Kgosi said BPS needs to do better because not only do members of the community suffer, the officers also suffer. During the rainy season, officers are forced to crowd inside that small room and it is not healthy.
At times when temperatures are soaring, officers end up doing their work outside the one-room office and it might compromise the quality of their work.
Kgosi said that police work is very sensitive and it is of significant importance that the identity of those who speak to the police be protected.
Meanwhile, the BPS is in the process of building 28 new police stations across the country as announced by Defense and Security Minister, Kagiso Mmusi last year.
However, Dutlwe is not among the areas which will get
a refurbished, extended or a newly-built police station during the current phase of improving and increasing the number of police stations in Botswana.
BPS spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Dipheko Motube said they are aware that some areas in the country are facing difficulties in terms of office spaces and accommodation for officers.
The intention, he said, is to attend to all challenges funds permitting.
“We are challenged throughout the country but we are going around the country assessing and rectifying the situations where possible.
“We agree that people need safe spaces to be able to report and speak to the police and we are proud that to this end, areas like Molepolole and Central Police Station(CPS) in Gaborone have seen progress in revamping police offices,” Motube said.