Walvis Residents ‘No’ To Municipal Police

DESPITE numerous suggestions in recent articles in the media (spin doctors at work) that Walvis Bay residents are positive about the establishment of a Municipal Police Force, a recent survey conducted by the Municipality indicates that a mere 50 per cent of respondents are in favour of the project.

The Residents’ Association would like to present the following reasons as to why establishment of such a force would not be to the advantage of our community as a whole. Cost and Payment: Assuming all paying residents paid the maximum amount as stipulated in the survey, only around N$ 11 million would be generated annually.In a recent discussion with an official at the Walvis Bay Municipality it came to light that the cost of establishing a Municipal Police would be a lot higher than what was initially estimated.It seems that the Municipality requires around N$25 million per year to finance such a police force.Residents would therefore probably be expected to fork out between N$200 and N$250 per household per month and businesses will have to pay three times their rate.If residents in the low-income sector of our community (where monthly municipal bills amount to between N$80 and N$150) were expected to add another N$250 to their municipal bill, it would represent a monthly increase of 150 per cent.If the Municipality should decide that only those residents who pay rates and taxes on properties would contribute to the account of this Municipal Police, the problem would be even worse as not all residents in Walvis Bay who own homes pay rates and taxes on properties.One must also bear in mind that this charge will appear on your monthly municipal bill and that failure to pay for the Municipal Police would result in the disconnection of your water supply and other services and will in turn result in you being handed over to their lawyers for debt collection.Once a police force is established with its entire infrastructure in place the process would be almost impossible to reverse.Should some residents stop paying due to the fact that they cannot afford it, the burden for the cost of maintaining such a force would fall on those who are consistent payers.Inevitably the total cost would then have to be spread amongst a smaller portion of the Walvis Bay public.Service Delivery: Some questions concerning the service delivery of a Municipal Police Force also arise.Criminal activity in residential areas mostly takes place in the mornings between 01h00 and 05h00.Can we expect to see the majority of policing activity-taking place between these hours? Will the service delivery be evenly spread throughout Walvis Bay Town, Langstrand, Kuisebmond and Narraville? Will such a Police force reduce crime by 100 per cent, 50 per cent or 30 per cent? Credibility Factor: Another point to consider is how the public would perceive such a police force.Will the Municipal Police be properly trained and will they command the necessary respect to enforce the law? In Conclusion: Only 50 per cent of the respondents to the survey agreed to the establishment of a Municipal Police force and even less than 50 per cent are willing to pay for it.Based on these facts alone, the Councillors of the Walvis Bay Municipality should vote against the establishment of a Municipal Police Force.Our concern is that the Walvis Bay Municipality could find themselves involved in another lengthy and expensive legal battle should they go ahead with the establishment of such a force.Unfortunately a Municipal Police is a luxury the town cannot afford.The Municipality already has huge debts that are reported to be in double figures.Establishing such a force would just add to the financial problems of the town.It has been suggested by some residents that the army outside Rooikop could supplement policing activities in the town.This option could be considered at Government level.Craig Deyzel Chairperson Walvis Bay Residents AssociationCost and Payment: Assuming all paying residents paid the maximum amount as stipulated in the survey, only around N$ 11 million would be generated annually.In a recent discussion with an official at the Walvis Bay Municipality it came to light that the cost of establishing a Municipal Police would be a lot higher than what was initially estimated.It seems that the Municipality requires around N$25 million per year to finance such a police force.Residents would therefore probably be expected to fork out between N$200 and N$250 per household per month and businesses will have to pay three times their rate.If residents in the low-income sector of our community (where monthly municipal bills amount to between N$80 and N$150) were expected to add another N$250 to their municipal bill, it would represent a monthly increase of 150 per cent.If the Municipality should decide that only those residents who pay rates and taxes on properties would contribute to the account of this Municipal Police, the problem would be even worse as not all residents in Walvis Bay who own homes pay rates and taxes on properties.One must also bear in mind that this charge will appear on your monthly municipal bill and that failure to pay for the Municipal Police would result in the disconnection of your water supply and other services and will in turn result in you being handed over to their lawyers for debt collection.Once a police force is established with its entire infrastructure in place the process would be almost impossible to reverse.Should some residents stop paying due to the fact that they cannot afford it, the burden for the cost of maintaining such a force would fall on those who are consistent payers.Inevitably the total cost would then have to be spread amongst a smaller portion of the Walvis Bay public.Service Delivery: Some questions concerning the service delivery of a Municipal Police Force also arise.Criminal activity in residential areas mostly takes place in the mornings between 01h00 and 05h00.Can we expect to see the majority of policing activity-taking place between these hours? Will the service delivery be evenly spread throughout Walvis Bay Town, Langstrand, Kuisebmond and Narraville? Will such a Police force reduce crime by 100 per cent, 50 per cent or 30 per cent? Credibility Factor: Another point to consider is how the public would perceive such a police force.Will the Municipal Police be properly trained and will they command the necessary respect to enforce the law? In Conclusion: Only 50 per cent of the respondents to the survey agreed to the establishment of a Municipal Police force and even less than 50 per cent are willing to pay for it.Based on these facts alone, the Councillors of the Walvis Bay Municipality should vote against the establishment of a Municipal Police Force.Our concern is that the Walvis Bay Municipality could find themselves involved in another lengthy and expensive legal battle should they go ahead with the establishment of such a force.Unfortunately a Municipal Police is a luxury the town cannot afford.The Municipality already has huge debts that are reported to be in double figures.Establishing such a force would just add to the financial problems of the town.It has been suggested by some residents that the army outside Rooikop could supplement policing activities in the town.This option could be considered at Government level.Craig Deyzel Chairperson Walvis Bay Residents Association