Rauna Kalola
Crime in Erongo declined by 10% during the 2025 festive season, with police attributing the improvement to intensified operations, strong partnerships and increased visibility during one of the busiest periods of the year.
Giving a review of the 2025 festive season at the Government Information Centre in Swakopmund, the head of the community policing subdivision in Erongo, Senior Inspector Judith Shomongula, said the festive season is treated as a high-risk operational window requiring intelligence-led and proactive policing. Patrols were increased in residential areas, beaches, entertainment zones and major access routes, while additional special reserve force officers were deployed from other regions to strengthen capacity.
Shomongula said housebreaking and theft dropped by 28%, assaults declined by 17%, robberies fell by 6% and domestic violence cases decreased by 46% compared to the previous festive season.
No widespread breakdown of law and order was recorded, and most incidents were contained through timely police intervention.
Traffic congestion and reckless driving remained challenges, especially at night and over weekends, but roadblocks and patrols led to multiple arrests for driving under the influence. Police stressed that road safety is a shared responsibility between law enforcement and motorists.
Community policing officer Inspector Serafine Kandjimi said alcohol and drug abuse remain key drivers of crime and public disorder in the region. She noted that prolonged alcohol consumption fuels assaults, domestic disputes and reckless behaviour, while substance abuse continues to destabilise households and communities.
Kandjimi also warned of rising scam cases where criminals impersonate bank officials and urged residents to be vigilant. She said public information and education are critical tools in preventing crime, calling on communities to lock homes properly, supervise children, verify suspicious calls and report criminal activity early.
Two drowning incidents were recorded along the coast, including the death of a paramedic who lost his life while rescuing children in Henties Bay. Police said the tragedies were linked to overcrowding and swimming in unsupervised areas and appealed for stricter adherence to beach safety rules.
Police said partnerships with municipalities, emergency services and lifeguards strengthened coordination and response times but stressed that safety cannot be achieved by enforcement alone.
“As police, we can do our part, but without informed and cooperative communities, crime prevention will not succeed,” Kandjimi said.
*Rauna Kalola is an Information Officer at MICT in Erongo.
