The Namibian police have warned against the unauthorised sharing of crime information after a leaked incident report, allegedly circulated by a police officer, detailed the arrest of a medical doctor at Onandjokwe State Hospital on allegations of rape.
The detailed report, which circulated online and was relied upon by several media houses, including The Namibian, was not part of the official weekend crime report issued by national police spokesperson deputy commissioner Kauna Shikwambi.
“The below incident is not included in the weekend crime report. Pardon us for that. It was not deliberate, though we all know the detailed report is already in circulation on social media.
“It is regrettable that preliminary information identifying individuals to an investigation is already in the public domain before any official communication has been issued or court appearances,” she says.
Shikwambi says the police’s official crime reports do not contain the identities or identifying particulars of victims of sexual offences, as such information is protected to safeguard victims’ rights.
She says it is concerning that preliminary information relating to an ongoing investigation, including details that could identify individuals involved, had entered the public domain before any official communication had been issued or before the matter had appeared in court.
Shikwambi says the police have since reminded officers that information intended for public consumption must be channelled through the public relations division and warns against the unauthorised sharing of confidential information relating to investigations.
She further urges journalists and the public to verify information with the division before publishing or sharing reports, particularly when documents circulating online have not been issued through official channels.
