No to Police brutality

FOR the second time in less than a month, the Inspector General of the Namibian Police yesterday spoke out publicly against members of the force who have reportedly been abusing their powers.

Lieutenant General Sebastian Ndeitunga reiterated a statement he made last month, condemning of?cers who he said were tarnishing the image of not only the Police, but also of Government in general. “There is no place for these unbecoming elements in the ranks of the Namibian Police.Either they have to shape up or ship out, and the sooner the better,” Ndeitunga said.”It is the constitutional and statutory obligation of the Inspector General to ensure that these unwanted elements are dealt with accordingly.Therefore I will leave no stone unturned in making sure that the force will never condone crime and lawlessness in the country, nor will it compromise in enforcing order and discipline among its ranks,” he said.Ndeitunga was speaking at the opening of a two-year training course in Human Rights and Institutional Development for of?cers with the rank of Chief Inspector and higher.Before addressing the recent claims of Police brutality, Ndeitunga said Namibia was witnessing “a promising trend pointing to a steady improvement in policing and Police performance”.”You may recall that before Independence, the colonial police force was notorious for their brutality, blatant violation of human rights and disrespect for the rule of law.As such they did not enjoy the necessary support and trust from the overwhelming majority of the population,” Ndeitunga said to those in attendance.Currently however, he said the Police have been co-operating well with citizens to ?ght crime.”Indeed, such good relations are vital for the smooth functioning of democracy embodied in the constitution.This is exactly what Government and the public at large are expecting from the Police, to act always within the limits of the law and not to abuse the power entrusted to them to further their own interests, or the interests of certain sections of the society and population groups,” he said.The training course is funded by the Finnish Embassy to the tune of N$600 000.”It is my hope that with this training the understanding of human rights, good governance and community policing will be enhanced, and also, very importantly, that the relationship between the police and public is improved,” commented Seija Kinni- Huttenen, Charge d’Affaires at the Finnish Embassy.”For as the public needs the Police to create a safe environment, so do the Police need the help of the public in their work,” she said.”There is no place for these unbecoming elements in the ranks of the Namibian Police.Either they have to shape up or ship out, and the sooner the better,” Ndeitunga said.”It is the constitutional and statutory obligation of the Inspector General to ensure that these unwanted elements are dealt with accordingly.Therefore I will leave no stone unturned in making sure that the force will never condone crime and lawlessness in the country, nor will it compromise in enforcing order and discipline among its ranks,” he said.Ndeitunga was speaking at the opening of a two-year training course in Human Rights and Institutional Development for of?cers with the rank of Chief Inspector and higher.Before addressing the recent claims of Police brutality, Ndeitunga said Namibia was witnessing “a promising trend pointing to a steady improvement in policing and Police performance”.”You may recall that before Independence, the colonial police force was notorious for their brutality, blatant violation of human rights and disrespect for the rule of law.As such they did not enjoy the necessary support and trust from the overwhelming majority of the population,” Ndeitunga said to those in attendance.Currently however, he said the Police have been co-operating well with citizens to ?ght crime.”Indeed, such good relations are vital for the smooth functioning of democracy embodied in the constitution.This is exactly what Government and the public at large are expecting from the Police, to act always within the limits of the law and not to abuse the power entrusted to them to further their own interests, or the interests of certain sections of the society and population groups,” he said.The training course is funded by the Finnish Embassy to the tune of N$600 000.”It is my hope that with this training the understanding of human rights, good governance and community policing will be enhanced, and also, very importantly, that the relationship between the police and public is improved,” commented Seija Kinni- Huttenen, Charge d’Affaires at the Finnish Embassy.”For as the public needs the Police to create a safe environment, so do the Police need the help of the public in their work,” she said.