Nampol 7 000 members down since 2016
A total of 324 murder cases were filed in Namibia in the 2021-22 financial year, 1 288 rape cases, 2 743 cases of aggravated robbery, 4 783 cases of gender violence, 506 cases of attempted murder, 249 cases of pointing a firearm and 11 cases of human trafficking.The Namibian police chief, Inspector General Joseph Shikongo, announced these statistics yesterday at Nampol's head office in the capital.
He said that just over 10 000 members were employed by the Namibian police (Nampol) by the middle of November, adding that around 800 members were employed by the force when it was established on 26 November 1990. “By 2016, there were more than 17 000 members, but due to a high turnover rate and the absence of replacements, this number was drastically reduced and by mid-November the number stood at only slightly more than 10 000 police officers,” he said.
The international target rate is of one police officer per 90 citizens, but with a national estimated population of 2.5 million in Namibia, this is a challenge with only one police officer for every 250 citizens.
Nevertheless, Shikongo said that Nampol can still deploy manpower where it is needed, and they also benefit from its established air wing, the criminal investigation unit and the special field force together with the special reserve force.
In the 2021-21 financial year, 98 640 criminal cases were filed with the police – 7% more than in the previous financial year. Shikongo added that 165 604 cases were carried over from the previous financial year, and a total of 122 428 cases were concluded in the 2021-2022 financial year.
At a completion rate of 46.3%, this means that 141 816 cases were transferred to this financial year by the end of the 2021-22 financial year.
Shikongo said that 32.8% of the new cases in 2021-22 were reported in the Khomas region, 10.7% in Oshana, and 8.6% in Otjozondjupa. In the Kavango West, Kunene and Omaheke regions, respectively, only 1.3%, 1.5% and 2.9% of all new cases were opened in the 2021-22 financial year.
Nampol also investigated 3 278 cases of livestock theft, 2 171 cases of drug trafficking, 246 cases of arson, 389 cases of car theft and 10 631 cases of house burglaries and theft, he says.
Shikongo said that 2 521 suspects were arrested in the period, including 134 foreigners.
Namibia is seen as one of the frontrunners (level 1) when it comes to combating human trafficking, Shikongo said, adding that the police seized illegal drugs worth N$41.1 million in the 2021-22 financial year .
Shikongo referred to the revision of Nampol's 2017-22 strategic plan with which he wants to make his vision of the best police force in Africa and the world a reality. “The development and management of human capital, the use of information technology, partnerships and international cooperation will be given priority,” he said.
“As members of the police force, we will have to be accountable to the people we serve. Our morality and behaviour should never be called into question. That means we as police officers must strive to do the right thing even if no one sees it,” he concluded. – [email protected]