Erongo Police ‘very happy’ with holiday behaviour

THE acting chief of the Erongo Police, Deputy Commissioner Marcellus Maritshane, has praised holidaymakers for their good behaviour over the festive season.

According to him, people were particularly responsible this year in comparison to previous years, and this was especially seen during the peak periods like Christmas and New Year, which he described as ‘very quiet’ on the crime and accident front.’I believe people got the message on how to behave themselves, and with a strong Police presence, the festive season was under control,’ he told The Namibian. Most of the crimes that were reported – albeit fewer than in previous years – were housebreaking and assault.Between December 1 and 31, 80 cases of housebreaking and 66 cases of assault were reported in the Erongo Region.According to the Maritshane, criminals did take advantage of the holiday period when tourists flooded the towns and campsites. He said the ‘party fever and alcohol’ led to some of the assaults.Only 55 cases of drunken driving were recorded in the region in the same period, while 25 cases of drug possession were reported – all of them were small amounts of dagga, according to Maritshane. This is apparently a major decrease in comparison to previous years.Maritshane said clubs and bars were inspected for illegal trading, but even there ‘things were quiet’.’We are very happy with the way the public conducted themselves,’ he said.