The Narraville police station emerged as the best police station in the Erongo region at the Namibian Police’s 33rd Police Day anniversary at Walvis Bay.
The event, held under the theme: ‘Boots on the ground to keep Erongo safe’, also awarded the anti-stock theft investigation sub-division as the best sub-division in the region, while the Swakopmund traffic unit is the best-run unit.
The best investigator of the year is detective senior inspector Johan Henry Geiseb, while sergeant Johannes Hamutenya is the best-disciplined member in the region.
Namibian Police deputy inspector general of operations Elias Mutota commended the police for playing an important role in maintaining peace and security in the country and remaining steadfast in their duties despite challenges.
He called on the nation to acknowledge the sacrifices made by police officers and their families and to support them in executing their duties, while urging the police to continue to improve in preventing crimes and apprehending suspects.
“Let us renew our commitment to building a police force that is not only effective in combating crime but is also a beacon of trust, human rights, professionalism and transparency. As we embrace the technological advancements of the modern era, let us ensure that our officers are equipped with the tools and training necessary to meet the evolving challenges of law enforcement.
Let us strengthen the bond between the police and the communities we serve. Community engagement is a cornerstone of effective policing. By fostering collaboration and understanding, we can build safer and more resilient communities.”
He also stressed the importance for all regions to learn from each other and adopt comparable concepts of combating crimes, depending on the crime trend and mode of operations in respective jurisdictions.
He noted that there is, therefore, a need to create or strengthen community policing through initiatives like women and men networks against crime, neighbourhood watches, youth against crime and the recruitment of police reservists, among others.
Erongo governor Neville Andre said he is proud of the exceptional relationship between the police and community leaders.
“We have witnessed how beneficial such a relationship is to the region at large. We are calling on all sectors of society to strengthen their relationship with the police in every corner of our region. The region is stable because there is always a room for understanding each other and prioritising the security of our community. We are proud of the police because day and night, you put your lives on the line to maintain law and order, ensuring the safety and security of our communities. Your selfless acts of bravery do not go unnoticed and we are forever grateful for your service.”
The 2022/23 financial year recorded 112 257 criminal cases countrywide, compared to 98 640 cases during the 2021/22 financial year, while 8 709 were reported in the Erongo region.
The most prevalent crimes in the Erongo region include theft, stock theft, housebreaking and theft, common assault, assault, grievous bodily harm and fraud.
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