Police numbers inadequate –Mmusi

Increase in police numbers needed

Asurge in violent crimes, particularly aggravated assault incidents on unsuspecting citizens, dispossessing them of their hardearned money and properties is the last thing the country wants to deal with as the police numbers are inadequate.

Presenting to the Committee of Supply, the Minister of Defence and Security, Kagiso Mmusi said the current police workforce has proven to be insufficient to address the increasing and complex crimes and other emerging security challenges.

Some of the serious crimes involve drug use, gender based violence (GBV), and stock theft among others that remain the country’s nightmare. One would agree that indeed an increase in the police force could reduce the crime incidents the country is currently burdened with.

Mmusi further pointed out that cybercrime, cash-in-transit heists, GBV, and livestock rustling are amongst the security challenges adding to crime escalation. He revealed the need for a significant surge in police numbers to mitigate these security challenges.

Mmusi, however, applauded the government for approving the filling of vacancies in the Botswana Police Service (BPS) that will see at least 1,000 police officers employed in the 2022–2023 financial year.

“The last batch of 500 recruits of the 1,000 will be graduating on March 30. Additionally, an establishment of another 1,000 new police officers will be recruited to strengthen the BPS in the coming financial year 2023–2024,” he said.

Mmusi stated that the unique and complex environment in policing urban areas challenges the service to continually explore alternative strategies to suppress criminality.

He added that Gaborone and Francistown in particular require the establishment of a unit dedicated to city policing. “This proposed city policing unit will require additional staffing and other resources to ensure that the cities are safe and secure.

The expansion of the safer city project is ongoing in Gaborone and the peripheral villages of Tlokweng, Mmopane, Mogoditshane and Metsimotlhabe as well as in Francistown with 1,800 cameras to cover 600 sites.

This is expected to be completed by December 2024. These interventions will improve police visibility in the streets and reduce crime,” Mmusi said.

He added that public safety is a key priority in the country’s endeavour to promote economic recovery and in this regard, crime management strategies seek to enhance police visibility and criminal investigation.

He further stated that in this connection, the nature of police work will be proactively adapted to benefit from best community engagement practices and advances in technology.

“During the next financial year and in order to improve the effectiveness of our crime prevention efforts, the service will develop capacity on unmanned aerial vehicle technology, cybersecurity and intelligence management, global surveillance monitoring and cyber analysis systems. These projects will go a long way in complementing the safer city programme and social media outreach efforts,” he said.

Furthermore, Mmusi revealed that livestock farming is threatened by a high level of stock theft incidents across the country promising that the ministry will continue to deploy resources in line with the recommendations drawn from the Presidential Commission of Inquiry on the alleged livestock rustling amongst the affected villages.

He also stated that the concerns of GBV and abuse of children have not subsided, and the quest for the deployment of pertinent interventions throughout the country cannot be ignored.

“The implementation of the sex offender registry and the provision of facilities for reporting these incidents will continue to be key priorities for ensuring human security,” Mmusi said.

Additionally, an establishment of another 1,000 new police officers will be recruited to strengthen the BPS in the coming financial year

2023–2024