500 GBV cases in six weeks
Crime statistics for December and the first half of January make for grim reading.
More than 500 gender-based violence (GBV) cases were reported to the police between 28 November 2017 and 18 January 2018.
This was confirmed in the official statistics of the Festive Season Crime Prevention and Road Safety Operation.
According to the police they also served 48 protection orders during the period.
There is no comparative data for the previous festive season.
The number of murders reported to the police during the 2017/18 festive season remained the same as the previous year, with 28 registered cases.
There was a slight increase in attempted murder cases, with 28 reported cases, compared to the previous year when 25 cases were reported.
Assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH) and rapes also increased somewhat, compared to the previous year, with 65 rape cases being reported in 2017/18 and 61 the previous year, while GBH cases totalled 197 during the just-ended period, and the previous year's figure stood at 184 cases.
Six armed robberies were reported, as opposed to eight last year, and 90 cases of housebreaking were reported during the 2017/18 festive season, compared to the 107 cases reported the previous year.
According to the police, a total of 18 suicides were reported, compared to the previous year's 36.
Meanwhile, drug-related cases amounted to 117, while the previous year a total of 69 such cases were reported to the police. Stock theft cases increased from 35 to 56.
With regard to protected resource cases, these increased from 11 to the 18, with 21 suspects arrested. These cases mainly deal with wildlife crime.
The police managed to confiscate seven pangolins, four elephant tusks, 60 pieces of ivory and five predator skins, as well as one tortoise, during their operations.
They also confiscated 91 bags of maize and 52 containers full of fuel, as well as eight firearms and 68 rounds of ammunition, 205 knives, 16 machetes and 13 screwdrivers.
Overall, a total 296 suspects were arrested, compared to the previous year, when 231 arrests were made. The arrests also included those of 157 illegal immigrants.
According Nampol inspector-general, lieutenant-general Sebastian Ndeitunga, the number of criminal cases registered was relatively low, except for GBH and dealing in drugs, where slight increases were observed.
“This does not only reflect the effectiveness of law-enforcement agencies, but also the support and cooperation we have received from the general public during the period under review.”
He urged police officers to rededicate themselves to the fight against crime, in order to make Namibia a better place.
“The safety and security of our nation must be at the forefront of our strategies.
We must ensure that the strategic guidelines are translated into well-thought and logically planned activities that are aimed at addressing crime and the fear of crime on our communities.”
ELLANIE SMIT
This was confirmed in the official statistics of the Festive Season Crime Prevention and Road Safety Operation.
According to the police they also served 48 protection orders during the period.
There is no comparative data for the previous festive season.
The number of murders reported to the police during the 2017/18 festive season remained the same as the previous year, with 28 registered cases.
There was a slight increase in attempted murder cases, with 28 reported cases, compared to the previous year when 25 cases were reported.
Assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH) and rapes also increased somewhat, compared to the previous year, with 65 rape cases being reported in 2017/18 and 61 the previous year, while GBH cases totalled 197 during the just-ended period, and the previous year's figure stood at 184 cases.
Six armed robberies were reported, as opposed to eight last year, and 90 cases of housebreaking were reported during the 2017/18 festive season, compared to the 107 cases reported the previous year.
According to the police, a total of 18 suicides were reported, compared to the previous year's 36.
Meanwhile, drug-related cases amounted to 117, while the previous year a total of 69 such cases were reported to the police. Stock theft cases increased from 35 to 56.
With regard to protected resource cases, these increased from 11 to the 18, with 21 suspects arrested. These cases mainly deal with wildlife crime.
The police managed to confiscate seven pangolins, four elephant tusks, 60 pieces of ivory and five predator skins, as well as one tortoise, during their operations.
They also confiscated 91 bags of maize and 52 containers full of fuel, as well as eight firearms and 68 rounds of ammunition, 205 knives, 16 machetes and 13 screwdrivers.
Overall, a total 296 suspects were arrested, compared to the previous year, when 231 arrests were made. The arrests also included those of 157 illegal immigrants.
According Nampol inspector-general, lieutenant-general Sebastian Ndeitunga, the number of criminal cases registered was relatively low, except for GBH and dealing in drugs, where slight increases were observed.
“This does not only reflect the effectiveness of law-enforcement agencies, but also the support and cooperation we have received from the general public during the period under review.”
He urged police officers to rededicate themselves to the fight against crime, in order to make Namibia a better place.
“The safety and security of our nation must be at the forefront of our strategies.
We must ensure that the strategic guidelines are translated into well-thought and logically planned activities that are aimed at addressing crime and the fear of crime on our communities.”
ELLANIE SMIT
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