Minister takes undisciplined cops to task

UNPROFESSIONAL conduct by Police officers cost the Ministry of Safety and Security more than N$1,6 million dollars in civil claims last year, Minister Peter Tsheehama has revealed.

During his annual address on Friday, the Safety and Security Minister told senior and middle-management staff of the Police and Prisons services that a total of 105 civil claims had been registered during the 2005/2006 financial year. These arose from unlawful arrests, detentions, assaults and searches by Police officers.Tsheehama registered deep disappointment with especially the Police, of whom he said a number had come under suspicion for corruption, bribery, and theft of Government and prisoners’ money this past year.He said cases were being investigated of officers sneaking in dagga and cellphones to inmates in holding cells.”These are indeed unacceptable conducts which shall neither be tolerated nor be entertained, but should be prevented and rooted out at all costs,” Tsheehama said.He warned that officers who make themselves guilty of such offences should not expect any mercy when their deeds are exposed.He urged managers to be stricter with their subordinates, pointing out that they should not try to win any popularity contests.”Don’t fear punishing your subordinates.You’re not made a chief to be praised, but to be feared,” he said sternly.”I have so many requests from officers who were dismissed from the force.After a month or two [after being dismissed from the force] it seems the money is gone and they appeal.”There will be no sympathy.This is my belief: whether you were a good administrator or whatever other position you were in – if you’re out, you’re out.”Tsheehama further lashed out at officers who frequently arrive at work late, and “to add insult to injury”, under the influence of alcohol.Speaking to the Prisons Service in particular, Tsheehama said that they had to make serious changes in their attitude and discipline.”Prisons have the greatest impact on the freedoms, liberties and rights of individuals.Therefore, you are duty bound to respect the fundamental human rights in every respect.You know very well in the past we have been brought to court and Government has paid significantly as a result of civil claims emanating from your improper and unprofessional acts.I want you this year to be more careful and more professional not to repeat such mistakes,” he said.Tsheehama was not without praise for the Prisons Service though -he commended them for generating close to N$3 million through agricultural projects with inmate labour.Prisons that received special mention were the Hardap, Oluno, Farm Scott and Divundu prisons.Farm Scott, for example, has been successful with cattle and sheep farming, while the Oluno Rehabilitation Centre, despite being a maximum-security prison, has been able to maintain a thriving pig farm, the minister said.”It is the real fulfilment of the Government’s desire to make prisoners assist in cutting … Government spending,” Tsheehama said.The Minister criticised his Ministry’s small allocation in the National Budget, saying that this always leads to a situation at the end of the year where it needs to be bailed out by the Ministry of Finance.For the financial year 2007/2008, for example, the Ministry was allocated N$731 684 000 after Tsheehama had requested N$764 994 000.To illustrate the Ministry’s financial constraints, Tsheehama said that only 834 of its 1 099 vehicles are currently operational.While 38 vehicles had been decommissioned last year, only 20 new ones had been added, and those were specifically for the Police’s VIP Protection Division.These arose from unlawful arrests, detentions, assaults and searches by Police officers.Tsheehama registered deep disappointment with especially the Police, of whom he said a number had come under suspicion for corruption, bribery, and theft of Government and prisoners’ money this past year.He said cases were being investigated of officers sneaking in dagga and cellphones to inmates in holding cells.”These are indeed unacceptable conducts which shall neither be tolerated nor be entertained, but should be prevented and rooted out at all costs,” Tsheehama said.He warned that officers who make themselves guilty of such offences should not expect any mercy when their deeds are exposed.He urged managers to be stricter with their subordinates, pointing out that they should not try to win any popularity contests. “Don’t fear punishing your subordinates.You’re not made a chief to be praised, but to be feared,” he said sternly.”I have so many requests from officers who were dismissed from the force.After a month or two [after being dismissed from the force] it seems the money is gone and they appeal.”There will be no sympathy.This is my belief: whether you were a good administrator or whatever other position you were in – if you’re out, you’re out.”Tsheehama further lashed out at officers who frequently arrive at work late, and “to add insult to injury”, under the influence of alcohol.Speaking to the Prisons Service in particular, Tsheehama said that they had to make serious changes in their attitude and discipline.”Prisons have the greatest impact on the freedoms, liberties and rights of individuals.Therefore, you are duty bound to respect the fundamental human rights in every respect.You know very well in the past we have been brought to court and Government has paid significantly as a result of civil claims emanating from your improper and unprofessional acts.I want you this year to be more careful and more professional not to repeat such mistakes,” he said.Tsheehama was not without praise for the Prisons Service though -he commended them for generating close to N$3 million through agricultural projects with inmate labour.Prisons that received special mention were the Hardap, Oluno, Farm Scott and Divundu prisons.Farm Scott, for example, has been successful with cattle and sheep farming, while the Oluno Rehabilitation Centre, despite being a maximum-security prison, has been able to maintain a thriving pig farm, the minister said.”It is the real fulfilment of the Government’s desire to make prisoners assist in cutting … Government spending,” Tsheehama said.The Minister criticised his Ministry’s small allocation in the National Budget, saying that this always leads to a situation at the end of the year where it needs to be bailed out by the Ministry of Finance. For the financial year 2007/2008, for example, the Ministry was allocated N$731 684 000 after Tsheehama had requested N$764 994 000.To illustrate the Ministry’s financial constraints, Tsheehama said that only 834 of its 1 099 vehicles are currently operational.While 38 vehicles had been decommissioned last year, only 20 new ones had been added, and those were specifically for the Police’s VIP Protection Division.