Time To Take On Police And Prisons

IT WOULD appear as if reports some weeks back by the Office of the Ombudsman and a special committee of the National Council, highlighting dreadful conditions in Namibian prisons and cells, were figments of the imagination, if the recent speech by the Minister of Safety and Security, Peter Tsheehama, is anything to go by.

He made no mention of these overwhelmingly negative reports when he addressed senior and middle-management staff at the Patrick Iyambo Police College late last week. Reviewing the 2005-6 financial year, Minister Tsheehama said that conditions were ‘satisfactory’ for Prison Services “although minor incidents such as escapes, detection of prohibited objects in prisons and jail breaks were recorded” (!), but he made no mention of minors being held in custody with adult prisoners, or the otherwise dismal conditions in many of the cells and prisons in the country.He added that “the Namibian Prison Service has done well, not only in providing safe custody to inmates, but also in rehabilitation programmes of inmates”.Again, no mention was made of overcrowding, minors being held with adults, etc.Looking at the negatives, or constraints faced by his Ministry, Tsheehama named the budget as one.Because the budget allocation was less than the amount requested, he said, NamPol’s problems had escalated due to insufficient resources.He also blamed a lack of funds for the transport and mobility problems experienced by the Police, saying that of 1 099 vehicles, only 834 were operational.Uniforms and food for Prisons and Police officers had also been adversely affected by scant funds, he added.Other negative factors included the impact of HIV on Police and Prisons cadres, with Minister Tsheehama saying that a number of members were on “permanent sick leave due to ill-health”.He did address the issue of what he called “unprofessional habits and practices”, which he described as “acute” within the Namibian Police.As a result of this, during the year under review 105 civil claims were registered against the Police.”If it was not for the unprofessional handling and indiscipline of some of the Police officers, we could have used this money in needy areas,” the Minister added.He correctly pointed out that discipline was the backbone of forces such as the Police and Prisons, and where it was lacking, uniformed officers were “doomed in (their) quest to fight crime and provide security and correctional services”.He did call on the forces to guard against temptations, in particular those members who “succumb to corruption, bribery or theft of Government money, as well as prisoners’ money and (who) are collaborating with inmates in prisons and cells by, for example, sneaking in prohibited substances and items, vis-a-vis dagga, cellphones, amongst others, into inmates’ cells”.Alcohol abuse in the force was also mentioned by the Minister, who said some officers have a habit of coming to work late, and in some cases under the influence of alcohol.Financial controls were also weak, and as a result both departments overspent their budgets.For the year ahead, the Minister did emphasise that crime reduction should be prioritised.It was only possible with commitment, a work ethic and discipline.He said prison staff were “duty bound to respect fundamental human rights” in order to minimise civil claims.Senior management should lead by example in order for the Force to meet high public expectations.Minister Tsheehama, in short, needs to take ownership of what is one of the most key Ministries in this country, and one that has been indicted in recent months by the reports referred to above.It is of no use to make an annual speech and expect all to be well within the Police and Prisons services.It is clear from the external reports, as well as his own summary, that the status quo is unacceptable.It is vital that problems in Police and Prisons be cleared.Money is not the only issue, and will not buy discipline.If forces are committed and responsible, they can go a long way towards ensuring vehicle lifespan is prolonged; juveniles kept separately from adults; and crime reduced within the forces themselves.Lackadaisical leadership will not help reach these goals.Reviewing the 2005-6 financial year, Minister Tsheehama said that conditions were ‘satisfactory’ for Prison Services “although minor incidents such as escapes, detection of prohibited objects in prisons and jail breaks were recorded” (!), but he made no mention of minors being held in custody with adult prisoners, or the otherwise dismal conditions in many of the cells and prisons in the country.He added that “the Namibian Prison Service has done well, not only in providing safe custody to inmates, but also in rehabilitation programmes of inmates”.Again, no mention was made of overcrowding, minors being held with adults, etc.Looking at the negatives, or constraints faced by his Ministry, Tsheehama named the budget as one.Because the budget allocation was less than the amount requested, he said, NamPol’s problems had escalated due to insufficient resources.He also blamed a lack of funds for the transport and mobility problems experienced by the Police, saying that of 1 099 vehicles, only 834 were operational.Uniforms and food for Prisons and Police officers had also been adversely affected by scant funds, he added.Other negative factors included the impact of HIV on Police and Prisons cadres, with Minister Tsheehama saying that a number of members were on “permanent sick leave due to ill-health”.He did address the issue of what he called “unprofessional habits and practices”, which he described as “acute” within the Namibian Police.As a result of this, during the year under review 105 civil claims were registered against the Police.”If it was not for the unprofessional handling and indiscipline of some of the Police officers, we could have used this money in needy areas,” the Minister added.He correctly pointed out that discipline was the backbone of forces such as the Police and Prisons, and where it was lacking, uniformed officers were “doomed in (their) quest to fight crime and provide security and correctional services”.He did call on the forces to guard against temptations, in particular those members who “succumb to corruption, bribery or theft of Government money, as well as prisoners’ money and (who) are collaborating with inmates in prisons and cells by, for example, sneaking in prohibited substances and items, vis-a-vis dagga, cellphones, amongst others, into inmates’ cells”.Alcohol abuse in the force was also mentioned by the Minister, who said some officers have a habit of coming to work late, and in some cases under the influence of alcohol.Financial controls were also weak, and as a result both departments overspent their budgets.For the year ahead, the Minister did emphasise that crime reduction should be prioritised.It was only possible with commitment, a work ethic and discipline.He said prison staff were “duty bound to respect fundamental human rights” in order to minimise civil claims.Senior management should lead by example in order for the Force to meet high public expectations.Minister Tsheehama, in short, needs to take ownership of what is one of the most key Ministries in this country, and one that has been indicted in recent months by the reports referred to above.It is of no use to make an annual speech and expect all to be well within the Police and Prisons services.It is clear from the external reports, as well as his own summary, that the status quo is unacceptable.It is vital that problems in Police and Prisons be cleared.Money is not the only issue, and will not buy discipline.If forces are committed and responsible, they can go a long way towards ensuring vehicle lifespan is prolonged; juveniles kept separately from adults; and crime reduced within the forces themselves.Lackadaisical leadership will not help reach these goals.