ONGWEDIVA – The Namibian Police recorded 110 551 criminal cases countrywide during the 2023/24 financial year.

The 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 yesterday during the official opening of a five-day NamPol Senior Command Conference of 2024, which commenced at Ongwediva.

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

“The prevalence of crime in our country remains a matter of serious concern. 

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 compassion to their clients in providing policing services.

“We should, therefore, devise strategies to address these types of irresponsible conduct,” he stressed.
-Nampa