KEETMANSHOOP – The Namibian Police Force’s crime investigations coordinator for the //Kharas region, deputy commissioner Nikodemus Mbango said the region has recorded a significant reduction of 55.3% in cases reported during the 2023/2024 festive period, compared to the previous season.

Mbango told Nampa on Friday that during the 2023/2024 festive season, the regional police recorded 398 cases when compared to the 892 cases recorded during the 2022/2023 festive season.

This, he said, was due to an increase in the police’s presence and public awareness.

“We came up with a strategy to reduce crime called ‘Boots on the ground’, and initiated crime prevention patrols as well as a community awareness campaign. During this period, no police officer was also allowed to take vacation leave as instructed by our regional commander, and all this helped in reducing crime in the region,” he noted.

Mbango revealed that the region recorded only three murders, compared to seven recorded in the previous festive season, as well as 13 domestic violence cases, 25 housebreakings, 22 robberies, seven rapes and 23 stock theft cases.

 The police apprehended 44 suspects during the 2023/2024 festive season for drug-related cases, compared to only 15 people arrested during the 2022/2023 festive period.

They also confiscated cannabis and Mandrax tablets valued at N$1.1 million.

“With drugs, we have a 100% arrest rate because we are proactive. When we find you with drugs, we arrest you, unlike the other crimes that we have to prevent from happening, or we have to wait for the crime to be committed to make an arrest,” said Mbango.

He went on to say that about 44 motor- vehicle accidents were reported during the 2023/2024 festive season with one life lost, while four persons were seriously injured, six slightly injured and a total of 46 vehicles being involved in accidents.

He commended the inhabitants of the region, and urged them to continue working closely with the police in the fight against crime. 

“Let us continue putting our efforts together as we did during the festive season, and fight crime head-on,” the senior officer urged. -Nampa

Caption: Crime reduction… Namibian Police Force crime investigations’ coordinator for //Kharas, deputy commissioner Nikodemus Mbango.

Photo: Nampa