THE Namibian Police head of media relations, chief inspector Kauna Shikwambi, has said the possession and use of cellular phones by recruits during the period of basic training is not allowed.
Shikwambi made the remarks in a statement yesterday, in response to concerns from the public about family members not having regular access to recruits during the training period.
In an SMS, published last week in The Namibian, an anonymous member of the public expressed concern about individuals at police training not being allowed to have cellphones during their training, which runs over one year.
The message read: “Inspector general Sebastian Ndeitunga, we, the parents, are very worried about our children who went for police training at Ondangwa. They are not allowed to have cellphones and (yet) they are staying there for one year, which does not make sense! At least they must have cellphones or stay there for six months like others did before them. Please look into this as a matter of urgency.”
Shikwambi clarified that recruits are only able to contact their relatives via mail, or by calling the training centre. “The Namibian Police Force wishes to state it clearly that according to its Training Institution Order, Chapter 12, provision is made that: Course participants/recruits are allowed to contact their parents, relatives, friends, and may only therefore make use of the mail address, Private Bag 2010, Ondangwa. Alternatively, parents can call the training centre on Tel. 065-240842 or fax 065 -240659,” said Shikwambi.
She said recruits are informed of this standing order prior to the commencement of their training and added that phones brought to the training centre will be confiscated and kept safely until the completion of the training. He further said recruits’ families will be contacted if an emergency arises.
“In the event of a recruit having an emergency, provision is made through the class instructors for the recruits to be attended to by the welfare officer and if and when necessary, the recruit is provided with his/her phone to contact the family,” said Shikwambi.
