Africa-Press – Namibia. POLICE chief inspector general Joseph Shikongo says 98 640 criminal cases were reported countrywide in the 2021/22 financial year.
This is an increase of 7% compared to the previous financial year.
Shikongo says 165 604 cases were brought forward from the previous financial year.
He was speaking during the 32nd commemoration of Police Day.
“I must emphasise that out of the 98 640 cases reported in the 2021/22 financial year, the Khomas, Oshana, and Otjozondjupa regions have had the highest crime rates,” he said.
The Khomas region represented 32,8% of all crime cases, the Oshana region 10,7%, and the Otjozondjupa region 8,6%, whereas the least represented region was that of Omaheke with 2,9% of all crimes, the Kavango West region with 1,3%, and the Kunene region with 1,5%.
Shikongo said the cases of serious crimes reported during the same period included 324 cases of murder, 1 288 rape cases, 2 743 cases of robbery with aggravating circumstances, and 4 783 cases of gender-based violence.
“Some 506 cases of attempted murder were reported, 249 cases of pointing a firearm, 11 of human trafficking, 3 278 of stock theft, and 2 171 of drug trafficking.
“Also 246 cases of arson, 10 631 housebreaking and theft cases, and 389 cases of theft of motor vehicles were recorded in the 2021/22 financial year,” he said.
Shikongo said 122 428 cases were cleared in the 2021/22 financial year, representing a 46,3% clearance rate.
“This brought the total number of cases on hand by the end of the 2021/22 financial year to 141 816,” he said.
The inspector general said some 2 521 suspects were intercepted and arrested, including 134 foreign nationals.
“Drugs with an estimated street value of N$41 419 413 were seized.
“In addition, Namibia was ranked as a tier 1 country in addressing trafficking in persons,” he said.
Shikongo said the police cannot exist without the support of civilians.
“The Namibian Police have received assistance and or donations from various stakeholders valued at N$3 280 705, and was also fortunate enough to receive vehicles from the Road Fund Administration to boost the operations of traffic law enforcement,” he said.
Shikongo said the police have received an offer to repair grounded police vehicles from the Pupkewitz Foundation to the value of N$304 799,11, of which five vehicles to the value of N$130 002 have already been repaired.
“We also got a sponsorship for the use of two vehicles by Indongo Toyota for the next six months, as well as a sponsorship by Metje + Ziegler (M+Z) Namibia of six courtesy vehicles to transport police chiefs from other countries during bilateral and regional meetings hosted by the police,” he said.
Shikongo has directed regional commanders to continue analysing crime trends in their respective areas of jurisdiction, review the deployment of officers according to the demand, as well as the strategy to be adopted for combating crime.
“Engage the tourist, protection units in their respective regions to guide and direct their operations to oversee improvements in the protection of tourists as well as put security mechanisms in place, to detect and stop the smuggling of prohibited or illegal items in the police holding cells.
“In addition, police holding cells searches should be conducted on a weekly basis, or as often as possible when situations dictate,” he said.
Shikongo urged all road users to adhere to traffic rules and regulations by maintaining the allowed speed limit, and encouraged police officers and civilians to coexist with one another.
This is an increase of 7% compared to the previous financial year.
Shikongo says 165 604 cases were brought forward from the previous financial year.
He was speaking during the 32nd commemoration of Police Day.
“I must emphasise that out of the 98 640 cases reported in the 2021/22 financial year, the Khomas, Oshana, and Otjozondjupa regions have had the highest crime rates,” he said.
The Khomas region represented 32,8% of all crime cases, the Oshana region 10,7%, and the Otjozondjupa region 8,6%, whereas the least represented region was that of Omaheke with 2,9% of all crimes, the Kavango West region with 1,3%, and the Kunene region with 1,5%.
Shikongo said the cases of serious crimes reported during the same period included 324 cases of murder, 1 288 rape cases, 2 743 cases of robbery with aggravating circumstances, and 4 783 cases of gender-based violence.
“Some 506 cases of attempted murder were reported, 249 cases of pointing a firearm, 11 of human trafficking, 3 278 of stock theft, and 2 171 of drug trafficking.
“Also 246 cases of arson, 10 631 housebreaking and theft cases, and 389 cases of theft of motor vehicles were recorded in the 2021/22 financial year,” he said.
Shikongo said 122 428 cases were cleared in the 2021/22 financial year, representing a 46,3% clearance rate.
“This brought the total number of cases on hand by the end of the 2021/22 financial year to 141 816,” he said.
The inspector general said some 2 521 suspects were intercepted and arrested, including 134 foreign nationals.
“Drugs with an estimated street value of N$41 419 413 were seized.
“In addition, Namibia was ranked as a tier 1 country in addressing trafficking in persons,” he said.
Shikongo said the police cannot exist without the support of civilians.
“The Namibian Police have received assistance and or donations from various stakeholders valued at N$3 280 705, and was also fortunate enough to receive vehicles from the Road Fund Administration to boost the operations of traffic law enforcement,” he said.
Shikongo said the police have received an offer to repair grounded police vehicles from the Pupkewitz Foundation to the value of N$304 799,11, of which five vehicles to the value of N$130 002 have already been repaired.
“We also got a sponsorship for the use of two vehicles by Indongo Toyota for the next six months, as well as a sponsorship by Metje + Ziegler (M+Z) Namibia of six courtesy vehicles to transport police chiefs from other countries during bilateral and regional meetings hosted by the police,” he said.
Shikongo has directed regional commanders to continue analysing crime trends in their respective areas of jurisdiction, review the deployment of officers according to the demand, as well as the strategy to be adopted for combating crime.
“Engage the tourist, protection units in their respective regions to guide and direct their operations to oversee improvements in the protection of tourists as well as put security mechanisms in place, to detect and stop the smuggling of prohibited or illegal items in the police holding cells.
“In addition, police holding cells searches should be conducted on a weekly basis, or as often as possible when situations dictate,” he said.
Shikongo urged all road users to adhere to traffic rules and regulations by maintaining the allowed speed limit, and encouraged police officers and civilians to coexist with one another.
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