11 Feb 2025

The Botswana Police Service will hold a National Crime Prevention Conference from March 19 to 20.

Updating the nation on the state of public safety, crime situation and measures in place to address crime and criminality in the country during a press conference yesterday, Minister for State President, Mr Moeti Mohwasa said various experts were expected to share insights and interventions on crime prevention. 

Also, Minister Mohwasa, who was accompanied by the Police Commissioner, Ms Dinha Marathe said the BPS would train 1 068 police officers comprising floor managers and frontline officers on customer handling. 

In its continuous efforts to fight crime in the country, Minister Mohwasa said BPS had put in place several special operations, such as the Rapid Response Teams, which were strategically positioned to respond promptly on a 24/7 basis, to deal with prevailing crime incidents.

Special operation, he said included, City Police, Air Support Services for aerial patrols and KgomoKhumo Anti-Stock Theft operation, among others. 

Through regional cooperation and collaboration, he said BPS continued to cooperate and collaborate with neighbouring countries to fight transnational organised crime through bi-lateral cooperation, joint investigations and joint border patrols.

Furthermore, he said the police service had leveraged on utilising science and technology, as a force multiplier, in its various law enforcement interventions, such as Automated Fingerprints Technology, Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) technology, Cyber Forensics services and others. 

Despite efforts put in place to fight crime, the minister said the BPS was faced with shortage of staff. However, he said government was 

expediting the absorption of all Special Constables into regular police officers and to also improve their general condition of service and welfare.

To improve police officers’ welfare issues, he said plans were also at advanced stage to implement a comprehensive psycho-social support programme for police officers. 

Meanwhile, Minister Mohwasa said a joint operation by BPS and Botswana Defence Force (BDF), code named Operation Pabalesego, which took place from December 19, 2024 to January 5, resulted in a decrease of 9.8 per cent in overall crime compared to the same period during the previous year.

However, he expressed displeasure that incidents of crime were still a public concern. 

Preliminary findings, he said indicated an 8 per cent decrease of total crime (146 526) recorded in the year 2024 compared to 159 680 cases, around the same period in the year 2023.

“In general, all prevalent offences recorded a decrease of 15 per cent in 2024 compared to 2023 from 17 054 in 2023 to 14 560 in 2024 save for murder cases which recorded a 5 per cent increase,” he added.

All offences, the minister said recorded a decrease in numbers, except murder, illicit drugs and defilement of persons under 18 years. 

Whilst some of the cases were still under investigations, he said since January 1 to date, more than 364 suspects were arrested and some had already appeared before courts of law.

He also pointed out that there had been a modest reduction in gender based violence (GBV) related offences from 331 cases recorded in January 2024 to 317 in January 2025. 

Whilst most GBV cases, such as threat to kill and rape have reduced, the minister was concerned on the increase in murder and defilement of children under 18 years.

“In some instances, these defilements are preceded by reports of missing persons who upon return turn out to have been harbored by adults for sexual exploitation. It is important to note that as a result of the police and partnering agencies’ robust community outreach programmes, communities are starting to understand many of these crimes, hence the reports,” he added.

Given that GBV cut across various sectors of society, Mr Mohwasa said there was need for multi-sectoral approach to address the scourge. 

One such approach, he said was the establishment of One-Stop-Service Centres across the country. ENDS