By Petronella Sibeene WINDHOEK Fed up with skyrocketing crime, the Walvis Bay Municipality might soon establish its own police force depending on the outcome of a survey that would ascertain if residents can afford to fork out an extra N$175 in addition to existing monthly municipal bills. The start-up capital needed for the establishment of such a force, that would possibly be fashioned along the lines of the Windhoek City Police, in terms of procuring equipment, recruitment and training is estimated to be between N$13 million and N$16 million. The idea was mooted after the municipality was flooded with appeals from the public and businesses alike requesting for a municipal police force to complement the regular force. According to the municipality’s communications officer Esther Haixwema, the Walvis Bay Council at its recent meeting endorsed the decision to establish a municipal police force that would aid present crime-fighting initiatives. “There have been strong indications in recent years that crime was increasing rapidly, especially violent crime, which prompted Council to re-investigate the implementation of a city police unit,” she said. The municipality carried out a survey in December 2006 to January 2007 to obtain the opinions of residents on the matter, especially that the costs of establishing and sustaining a municipal police force would have to be borne by them. Preliminary survey findings showed the majority of the residents (58%) voted in favour of a municipal police force with 50% willing to pay for such a service. However, the initial survey proposed a customer monthly contribution of between N$50 and N$60 for private residents and between N$120 and N$160 for business owners. In view of the results of the preliminary survey that indicated almost a 50/50 split on whether to proceed with the concept or not, the Walvis Bay City Council decided to launch a final survey. A group of unemployed youth were already trained in conjunction with the Multi-Purpose Youth Centre to carry out the survey at the beginning of May 2007. The survey questionnaire required the name, address and contact numbers of participants. Although the initial survey indicated the monthly running costs per household as between N$40 and N$60 and between N$120 and N$180 for businesses, the first survey proposed that residents pay N$175 and businesses N$300 in addition to existing municipal bills. The fluctuation in figures, according to Nolita Marques, the communications officer for the municipality, is because the town a needs to recruit between 60 and 80 police officers. Thus the amount to be collected would be used for training, uniforms, boots, batons, handcuffs, pistols and other materials that might be needed. There are 18 000 ratepayers in Walvis Bay. “As the running of such a force will have a major impact on the local authority’s resources, Council has directed that the community be involved,” Haixwema said. A series of public meetings were held in addition to the survey and a detailed financial plan for the type of force envisaged has been drafted. By yesterday, the public relations department was hard at work analyzing data that will soon be forwarded to the management committee for scrutiny or further action. “The Department of Community and Economic Development will submit a comprehensive report to Council for a final decision to accept, or reject, the implementation of such a force,” said Haixwema. On average, the Walvis Bay city police record between 50 and 60 cases while other areas such as Kuisebmund had 70 to 80 criminal cases per week. These include cases related to rape, housebreaking and armed robberies. Although he could not indicate the number of the police staff in Walvis Bay, former Deputy Commissioner Andrew Iyambo of the Namibian Police in the Erongo Region expressed his concern over the increasing attacks on police staff. Due to that, it had become difficult for departments to assign only one police officer to a scene due to attacks and lack of respect for officers. This on its own poses yet another challenge, as there are few staff members at the town.