The Namibian Police Force (NamPol) has recorded 110 551 criminal cases, countrywide during the financial year 2023/24.

The criminal cases range from robbery, rape, violence against women and children, and other forms of domestic violence, murder, theft of motor vehicles and livestock, dealing in drugs, housebreaking, and theft.

This was revealed by Inspector General of NamPol, Lieutenant General Joseph Shikongo on Monday during the official opening of a five-day NamPol Senior Command Conference of 2024, which commenced at Ongwediva in the Oshana region.

He indicated that most crimes reported were from the Khomas, Oshana, Otjozondjupa, and Erongo regions, with 32.5 per cent, 11.3 per cent, 8.3 per cent, and 8 per cent of the total reported crimes, respectively. Whereas the Kavango West, Kunene, and Omaheke regions were the least affected regions, with 1.5 per cent, for Kavango West and 3 per cent each for Kunene and Omaheke regions.

‘The prevalence of crime in our country remains a matter of serious concer
n. 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 to combat crime,’ he said.

He added that apart from crime, his office frequently receives complaints from society about police officers delivering poor service, particularly at some charge offices and investigations units.

Some of these members, Shikongo stressed, tend to be self-appointed bosses, who show no respect, politeness, friendliness, and or compassion to their clients in providing policing services.

‘We should, therefore, devise strategies to address these types of irresponsible conduct,’ he added.

Source: The Namibia News Agency