Staff Writer
The police Inspector-General Sebastian Ndeitunga said the police received 92 251 criminal cases during the 2020/21 financial year, with housebreaking topping the list at 7 487.
Coming second was GBV with 4 445, stock theft 3 160, illicit drugs 2 115, rape 1 205, attempted murder 461, robbery with a firearm 418, theft of motor vehicles 403, murder 308, pointing a firearm 256, arson 196, and trafficking in person 13.
The Inspector-General gave these statistics on Saturday when he spoke during the 31st anniversary of the Namibian Police Force at Katima Mulilo.
Ndeitunga also said 178 987 unresolved criminal cases were brought forward from the 2019/20 year.
“This brought the total number of cases on hand to 271 238 at the end of the said financial year,” Ndeitunga said.
He said out of the 271 238 cases, the police cleared 105 634 (39 per cent).
Ndeitunga said out of the 92 251 cases, Khomas, Oshana and Otjozndjupa had the highest rates with 34, 11 and eight per cent respectively.
Kavango West, Kunene and Omaheke had the lowest rates at one, two and three per cent respectively.
According to Ndeitunga, the force was reviewing its five-year strategic plan for 2017-2022 to carry out and respond to its mandate.
The organisational performance of the Namibian Police during the 2020-2021 financial year was based on the three pillars – effective policing, building partnerships and organisational performance, he said.
Ndeitunga said on the first pillar, the force achieved 83 per cent, on the second one, they did 59 per cent, and on the third one, they managed 65 per cent.
BUDGET
The Inspector-General said the reduction of the police budget from N$4 372 904 000 impacted their performance.
He said the reduction led to the halting of some operations.
However, Ndeitunga urged all commanders and officers to perform their duties diligently and with commitment.
He said commanders must ensure that the chain of command is followed because if that is not done, it might lead to misplacement of firearms, among others.
“I am also concerned that at times the operational function of the force is being neglected when it comes to the deployment of personnel, vehicles and other resources in favour of administrative functions both at national, regional and station levels.
“These entities seem to have been enjoying suitable deployment of the force personnel and vehicles at the expense of operational function which drives the core mandate of the force,” he pointed out.
Ndeitunga said continuous regional joint operations should be conducted to curb livestock theft, theft of motor vehicles, drug trafficking, and other crimes.
In addition, he said periodic inspections should be undertaken regarding police armaments, exhibit rooms, prisoners properties, dormitories and police vehicles.
Police holding cells, Ndeiytunga said, should be searched every week or as often as possible.
