Botswana: Crime Prevention Committee members and their stakeholders of Botswana were encouraged to continue being functional in the fight against crime.
The Director made the call of Operations, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Katlholo Mosimanegape, during his ongoing interactive meetings with Crime Prevention Committee members at Tsabong and Kang on 24/10/2023 and 26/10/2023, respectively.
The Seminars are meant to provide an interactive platform for various crime prevention stakeholders to share ideas, identify gaps as well as develop and implement applicable strategies that will effectively address the modern crime trends.
When addressing participants at the Tsabong Seminar, Mosimanegape said the community can play a vital role in crime reduction, such as detecting the root causes of crime in their localities as criminals are part of the community and, therefore, are known.
He also urged the Botswana government and private and parastatal organisations to form clusters to drive crime prevention initiatives in their respective organisations.
The Director highlighted that statistics indicate that perpetrators of crime are the youth, appealing to parents and guardians to play their role in moulding their children to become responsible citizens.
Addressing Kang attendants, Mosimanegape heard concerns about increasing incidents of drug and substance abuse and stock theft, among others, in Kgalagadi.
Residents were urged to take responsibility for managing crime in the area. On stock theft issues, participants were encouraged to look after their cattle and brand them as criminals targeting unbranded livestock.
For his part, Kang Crime Prevention Chairperson Kgosi Cosmos Tshotlane appreciated the workshop, adding that such forums were needed to strengthen the relationship between the Police and the community.
He advised his community to refrain from criminal activities and work together to curb crime. Kgosi Tshotlane pleaded with the Police for more such workshops to motivate members in the fight against crime.