Walvis Bay wants its own city police

THE majority of Walvis Bay residents have voted in favour of establishing a municipal police force and indicated that they are willing to foot the bill.

Esther Haixwema of the Walvis Bay Municipality said on Friday that the residents have indicated that they are prepared to pay between N$50 and N$60 a month to curb the soaring crime at the harbour town. She said 58 per cent of the residents want the police force and business owners have offered to pay between N$120 and N$160 a month for the service.The survey was conducted over the last two months to determine the feasibility of establishing such a force.”Before the survey was conducted, Council had also engaged in consultations with various interest groups representing the wider public on the issue of a city police force for Walvis Bay,” Haixwema said.She said there had been strong indications in recent years that crime was increasing rapidly, especially violent crime, which prompted the Town Council to investigate the implementation of a police unit.”As the running of such a force will have a major impact on the local authority’s resources, Council had directed that the community be involved in as many facets of the feasibility study as possible,” she said.She said the Council would only reach a final decision on the implementation of a city police force once all the groundwork had been completed.”The series of public meetings and the survey are but one aspect of this process, which will also include a detailed financial plan for the type of force envisaged,” Haixwema said.The Municipality’s Department of Community and Economic Development is expected to submit a report to Council for a final decision on the implementation of such a force.She said 58 per cent of the residents want the police force and business owners have offered to pay between N$120 and N$160 a month for the service.The survey was conducted over the last two months to determine the feasibility of establishing such a force.”Before the survey was conducted, Council had also engaged in consultations with various interest groups representing the wider public on the issue of a city police force for Walvis Bay,” Haixwema said.She said there had been strong indications in recent years that crime was increasing rapidly, especially violent crime, which prompted the Town Council to investigate the implementation of a police unit.”As the running of such a force will have a major impact on the local authority’s resources, Council had directed that the community be involved in as many facets of the feasibility study as possible,” she said.She said the Council would only reach a final decision on the implementation of a city police force once all the groundwork had been completed.”The series of public meetings and the survey are but one aspect of this process, which will also include a detailed financial plan for the type of force envisaged,” Haixwema said.The Municipality’s Department of Community and Economic Development is expected to submit a report to Council for a final decision on the implementation of such a force.