Thousands of police investigations not completed
Lack of manpower, vehicles
Some cases are delayed due to forensic results that have to be sent to internationally certified laboratories abroad.
The Khomas region has more than 2 700 pending police investigations, with the total for all 14 regions in Namibia standing at 4 377.The biggest reasons for this are a lack of manpower, resources and transport.
Also, there is a delay in mutual legal aid especially in locating foreign witnesses or complainants because investigative officers, as per protocol, are forced to work through various channels such as Interpol, the Ministry of Justice, as well as the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation. In some cases, investigations are delayed because some forensic results are sent to internationally certified laboratories outside Namibia.
The Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security, Dr Albert Kawana, says the "unacceptable situation" will hopefully improve when the police officers who started training last year clear out in May before the next intake arrives.
Referring to the absence of certain skills that negatively affect the efficiency of service delivery in the service, the minister says investigators receive specialised training in domestic violence, financial crime and human trafficking.
However, qualified investigators do not remain in the service of the police for long, because they are recruited mainly by financial institutions such as banks and insurance companies.
According to Kawana, this causes delays in investigations, workloads that increase, cases that are deleted from the court roll, poor communication with victims and or complainants and also an increase in the backlog of court cases that ultimately overloads the legal system.
In an attempt to expedite police investigations, the ministry undertook to recruit police members.
Other strategies of the ministry to curb the huge backlog in the completion of police investigations include the supervision, monitoring and control of the inspection of police files, the introduction of scientific investigation techniques, as well as the introduction of supporting incentive initiatives such as team building and awards. Although Khomas' figures for incomplete investigations are much higher than in the rest of the country, according to Kawana, Oshana's figure stands at 319, Otjozondjupa at 222, Ohangwena at 210, Kavango East at 132 and Omusati at 128. Kavango West has, according to the minister the lowest figure and indeed 36. The Minister of Finance Iipumbu Shiimi on Wednesday during his budget speech for 2024-'25 allocated an amount of N$7.4 billion to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security. – [email protected]