Africa-Press – Botswana. The British High Commission’s donation of video audio recording equipment worth over P1 million to Botswana Police Service (BPS) will make police stations more child friendly.
Presenting the equipment, high commissioner, Ms Sian Price said it could be installed in police interview rooms or deployed in remote areas to record and capture evidence given by children.
Giving the background, the high commissioner said the commitment exhibited by BPS elicited her office’s interest in supporting the roll out of child friendly services to police stations around the country.
The result was the latest donation and a visit by senior police officials to London for benchmarking purposes, she said.
Ms Price said she envisaged a future where BPS would be known for excellence and eventually train police officers from other countries.
She expressed pride that her country was able to support BPS and UNICEF on the introduction of child friendly services in police stations.
“We also provided special equipment to Botswana’s first child friendly police station in Broadhurst, she said.
The high commissioner said the UK had worked with UNICEF to develop operating procedures for those working with vulnerable people and that police officers had been trained on interviewing vulnerable victims and getting evidence.
Acting police commissioner, Mr Solomon Mantswe thanked the British government for partnering with BPS in its endeavour to deliver child friendly services.
He said the equipment would enable police to connect with children at a deeper level.
Mr Matswe said the video recording system was aligned with the best interests of the child as it was designed to protect children from being re-victimised.
It would enable BPS to produce high quality forensic interviews which would add weight and credibility to cases and enhance police prosecution abilities, he said.
Mr Mantswe described technology as an enabler in the fight against crime.
He also thanked UNICEF for helping BPS to provide such services at Letlhakane, Shakawe and Ghanzi police stations.
Through the efforts of both the high commission and UNICEF, BPS had been facilitated and equipped with knowledge on child appropriate interviewing skills and tactics, he said.
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