Query: What are the duties of police officers? A female police officer in Hakahana looked on as a violent man beat his girlfriend to death, but she did not make any effort to help the poor victim. When she was asked to call her colleagues to report the matter, she just responded that she will not call people. This is just so bad. What is going on in this country?
Response: In terms of Section 13 of the Police Act (Act 19/1990) as amended, amongst others it is the function of all police officers to prevent crime and protect life and property. Thus, regardless of whether on duty or off duty, if a police officer finds himself/herself at a crime scene, it is his/her duty to act reasonably and within his/her powers to avert the crime or minimize the potential harm or injury that may result from the crime.
Therefore, it would be expected of every police officer if he/she is the first person at the crime scene to determine the situation and request for re-enforcement from the nearest police station, and ascertain if immediate pursuit of the perpetrator is advisable. More importantly, the police officer should determine the condition of the victim and arrange or cause for immediate medical attention if it is needed.
If it is reasonably possible, and it can be done without endangering life or property, a police officer at the crime scene should ascertain the identity or the perpetrator and arrest the suspect immediately.
Hence, in the event where a police officer fails to act where he/she reasonably ought to have acted positively, it could attract departmental proceedings or criminal liability for the police officer concerned, especially where the failure to act is sufficiently blameworthy, unless the police officer had a reasonable excuse or justification for her omission to act.
With regard to the allegations made in the SMS, we regard the allegations in a serious light. They warrant an investigation to determine if it can be substantiated with evidence, and hence we request the author of the SMS to visit any nearest police station or alternatively the Namibian Police Internal Investigations Directorate to lay a formal complaint.
Inspector Slogan Matheus, Public Relations Division, tel: 061 – 2093378, Namibian Police Force.