Botswana: The Botswana Police Service organized a committee called Crime Prevention Committees to continue contributing voluntarily and selflessly towards creating a safe and secure community. The police service has taken up this initiative in order to control crime.
Pastor Hendrik Du-Plessis made the call of D’ kar Reformed Church during the Community Policing Cluster Awards ceremony, organized by Gantsi Policing District on Monday (18/09/2023).
Pastor Hendrik Du-Plessis commended the Crime Prevention.
Committees for their voluntarism in combating crime, saying their participation contributed significantly to crime reduction. He urged them to collaborate with the Police as the latter cannot win the fight against crime alone.
He also applauded the Police for engaging Crime Prevention Committees in addressing social ills such as crime and road traffic accidents.
Pastor Du-Plissis highlighted that in spite of some of the major public security challenges currently threatening this country, community Policing stands out as the most effective remedy for addressing them.
He further applauded the BPS for establishing the Gender and Child Protection Branch and the rollout of Child-Friendly Centers to address Gender-Based Violence issues. He said the initiative is relevant as it addresses issues mostly affecting children.
In her welcome remarks, the Gantsi Court President, Annah Ranko, applauded the award winners and encouraged them to work hard and be committed to keeping their neighbourhoods safe.
For his part, Divisional Crime Investigations Officer North West, Assistant Commissioner of Police Galesite Lesego, said the BPS formulated Community Policing initiatives to bridge the gap that once existed between police officers and the community.
Lesego encouraged Crime Prevention Committee members to do more with what they have towards crime reduction. He further urged them to review their existing crime prevention programmes and come up with new Community Policing initiatives that respond to crime in their area.
Gantsi Policing District, which consists of Ncojane, Charleshill, Gantsi and Kalfontein Police Stations, were awarded a total of 39 awards, 14 for Best Practice and 25 for Community Commitment.