Shebeens ‘slowing down crime fight’

A CONCERTED Police crackdown appears to be altering criminal tendencies in Windhoek, but shebeens continue to be cause for concern and a breeding ground for crime.

This was the message of the Namibian Police (NamPol) and the Windhoek City Police during a media briefing in Windhoek yesterday on their current joint operation, known as ‘Operation September’, in the capital. Police officers from both agencies have been patrolling riverbeds, residential areas and bars since August 3.They say that the exercise, which runs until the end of September, has proved invaluable in determining patterns of criminal behaviour, and is making Windhoek a safer place.Recent Police operations have shown that pepper spray has become the weapon of choice for many armed robbers; toy guns used at night prove just as successful in a hold-up as the real thing; and while security guards are posted at doors and windows, rooftops still provide access to criminals using simple shears.But while the Police claim a “noticeable decrease in crime in general”, spokesperson Angula Amulungu said yesterday that the authorities had identified shebeens as a matter of great concern.”Shebeens are favourite places to carry and hide unlicensed firearms and dangerous weapons.Five licensed firearms were removed for safekeeping from their owners during the last weekend at shebeens after the owners were found too drunk to handle such firearms,” Amulungu said.NamPol’s Khomas Regional Commander, Samuel Hoebeb, added that a number of shebeens were still not adhering to the prescribed operating times.”They might close the doors at 24h00, but then there are still people inside.This will cost them their jobs.Because when they adhere to the rules, this also decreases the number of crimes.We’ve confiscated a number of licensed and unlicensed firearms.How can you mix firearms and alcohol?” he said.People who have had their weapons confiscated are required to collect these at the Police station, where they will be issued a warning or, in the worst-case scenario, their firearm licences could be revoked.Between the start of the operation and yesterday morning, 51 people had been arrested for drinking in public, with most having paid a N$200 fine for release from Police cells.Forty shebeens have been closed down and issued with summonses for operating after legal operating hours.Twenty-six people have been arrested for drunken driving.”While it is not the intention of the Police to close shebeens down, shebeen owners must refrain from being a nuisance to those that live around them and must heed the law.We warn shebeen owners that they will be subjected to arrest and serious criminal charges under the Liquor Act, with high fines in the future,” a Police report on the issue states.But shebeens are not the only crime hot spots in the city – riverbeds and automatic teller machines (ATMs) have also been identified as prime points for criminals.Police said they had arrested a number of people involved in ATM fraud, while identifying the getaway vehicles used in these crimes.”We’ve now got a number of plainclothes officers who are always nearby.”We’ve decided that we need to protect the public from such crimes,” Hoebeb said.Riverbeds have also seen an increase in violent crime, with reports of murders and robberies, especially in the Wanaheda area, appearing regularly on Police crime reports.”We’re going to take serious steps, very serious steps, to bring this under control,” NamPol Inspector Derek Brune told the media.”Generally, the commanders are all pleased.We’re seeing the marked drops we were hoping for in specific crimes, and Windhoek is becoming a safer place to live in.But there are these few concerns,” Brune said.Police officers from both agencies have been patrolling riverbeds, residential areas and bars since August 3.They say that the exercise, which runs until the end of September, has proved invaluable in determining patterns of criminal behaviour, and is making Windhoek a safer place. Recent Police operations have shown that pepper spray has become the weapon of choice for many armed robbers; toy guns used at night prove just as successful in a hold-up as the real thing; and while security guards are posted at doors and windows, rooftops still provide access to criminals using simple shears.But while the Police claim a “noticeable decrease in crime in general”, spokesperson Angula Amulungu said yesterday that the authorities had identified shebeens as a matter of great concern.”Shebeens are favourite places to carry and hide unlicensed firearms and dangerous weapons.Five licensed firearms were removed for safekeeping from their owners during the last weekend at shebeens after the owners were found too drunk to handle such firearms,” Amulungu said.NamPol’s Khomas Regional Commander, Samuel Hoebeb, added that a number of shebeens were still not adhering to the prescribed operating times.”They might close the doors at 24h00, but then there are still people inside.This will cost them their jobs.Because when they adhere to the rules, this also decreases the number of crimes.We’ve confiscated a number of licensed and unlicensed firearms.How can you mix firearms and alcohol?” he said.People who have had their weapons confiscated are required to collect these at the Police station, where they will be issued a warning or, in the worst-case scenario, their firearm licences could be revoked.Between the start of the operation and yesterday morning, 51 people had been arrested for drinking in public, with most having paid a N$200 fine for release from Police cells.Forty shebeens have been closed down and issued with summonses for operating after legal operating hours.Twenty-six people have been arrested for drunken driving.”While it is not the intention of the Police to close shebeens down, shebeen owners must refrain from being a nuisance to those that live around them and must heed the law.We warn shebeen owners that they will be subjected to arrest and serious criminal charges under the Liquor Act, with high fines in the future,” a Police report on the issue states.But shebeens are not the only crime hot spots in the city – riverbeds and automatic teller machines (ATMs) have also been identified as prime points for criminals.Police said they had arrested a number of people involved in ATM fraud, while identifying the getaway vehicles used in these crimes.”We’ve now got a number of plainclothes officers who are always nearby.”We’ve decided that we need to protect the public from such crimes,” Hoebeb said.Riverbeds have also seen an increase in violent crime, with reports of murders and robberies, especially in the Wanaheda area, appearing regularly on Police crime reports.”We’re going to take serious steps, very serious steps, to bring this under control,” NamPol Inspector Derek Brune told the media.”Generally, the commanders are all pleased.We’re seeing the marked drops we were hoping for in specific crimes, and Windhoek is becoming a safer place to live in.But there are these few concerns,” Brune said.