Botswana Police Service scooped third position at this year's annual BOCCIM Northern Trade Fair exhibition held at Gerald Estates, Francistown from May 29 - June 1, 2013. The first and second position went to the Ministry of lands and Housing and Labour and Home Affairs respectively.   The organization which competed with a number of other government ministries and departments tailored its messages around its theme of a Crime Free Environment: Key to Citizen Participation in Economy drawn in line with this year BOCCIM’s Unlocking Opportunities to Successful Citizen Participation in the Economy of Botswana. In addition to its aesthetic stall design and educational publications the BPS enhanced its competitiveness by display of road safety equipments such as booze bus, speed trap and Jaws of Life. The police also provided a caravan in the BOCCIM trade fair premises to be a mini station providing immediate services to customers who reported crime incidents or lost property.   The BOCCIM fair once again helped the BPS to express its continued commitment to public safety and protection with its key messages bent on commitment to immediate response to crime incidents and public education. The public’s interaction with the BPS enabled them (public) to learn more about the services provided by the BPS which encouraged them to see the need of actively participating in various initiatives of crime prevention such as cluster committees and neighbourhood watch schemes. The BOCCIM fair attracted over 180 organisations which provide critical services to the general public. It was a good platform for showcasing and explaining various services to existing and potential customers. The 19th year Trade Fair which made the city of Francistown a networking stage for businesses was officially opened by the Botswana Telecommunications Corporation (BTC) Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Paul Taylor. Mr Taylor urged the country's private sector to optimally use the Trade Fair to share world class skills products to open up more direct and indirect competition. He however urged local private sector to continue to lobby for government policies that could make it easier for foreign businesses to also operate in Botswana to promote diversity and growth to create employment, eradicate poverty and build long-term sustainability. The BOCCIM Northern Trade Fair is seen as an ideal investment destination and a getaway to countries north of Botswana.

The Botswana Police Service (BPS) will be among many exhibitors at the 2013 Botswana Confederation of Commerce Industry and Manpower (BOCCIM) Northern Trade expected to run from 29/5/13 to 1/6/13. The organization will once again have an opportunity to sell its various services to the business community. Its messages will border largely around this year’s theme of Crime Free Environment: Key to Citizen Participation in Economy. Among others, the BPS will sensitize the public on its continued commitment to public safety and protection which embrace recognition for immediate response to crime and incidents, road safety and public education. Interaction with the business community will enable them to learn more about BPS services and encourage them to actively participate in various initiatives of crime prevention.

The Executive Director of Customs and Border Protection in the United States of America Ms Loretta Gamble has called for establishment of national, regional and international cooperation in the fight against crime. Ms Gamble made the call when officially closing the second Law Enforcement Leadership Development (LELD) course at the International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) last week. She said that cooperation will help in securing the safety of the ports of entries and the nations as well as facilitating the movement of international trade and travel that are vital to the economy of the regions represented. She highlighted that in recent years, continents have suffered human directed catastrophes that involved people crossing into other nations to conduct their evil work. She encouraged law enforcers to work with fellow agencies within their government and international partners to secure the security of their nationals as well as their neighbours. She also said that gone are days when lawbreakers used to limit their criminal activities to their own countries or regions, saying that today’s criminals are well versed in advanced technologies and legal authorities. Ms Gamble pleaded with the participants to continue strengthening their professional and personal ties and ability to assist each other in cooperative endeavours through out the world. The six-week LELD course was attended by 40 participants from Botswana, Cameroon, Comoros, Djibouti, Gabon and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

It is quite evident that the Botswana Police Service is playing a crucial role of creating an enabling environment for tourism in the country. The safety and security provided by the police enable tourists from as far as Asia, Australia, Europe and United States of America to enjoy the magnificent hospitality coupled with attraction of wildlife species which are also a boost to Botswana’s economy. The Police Magazine team recently visited one of tourists’ attraction areas of Ihaha Camp Site located in the Chobe National Park just on the banks of the Chobe River which also enjoy police protection. As the team drove into the Camp, it met with the Camp Manager Ms Bodule Kejakang who had nothing to complain about but only to praise the police for their visibility in the Camp. She said in the past years tourists used to be attacked by criminals from the Namibian side who would steal cameras, binoculars, clothing and other items. The Camp Manager recalled an incident in December 2012 in which a tourist was attacked by criminals at one of the Sites and stole almost all of his valuable items. “This made tourists feel unsecure but I want to praise the police for increased visibility especially during the night. Tourists are now very safe and since having regular patrols by the police we have never encountered any problem”, Ms Kejakang shared with the Police Magazine team. Ms Kejakang pointed out that Ihaha has 10 Camp Sites and during the months of April to August each year they receive a heightened number of close to 100 tourists a day and the figure always increases during festive seasons. She highlighted that tourism especially in Chobe contributes immensely to the growth of the economy therefore there is need to protect tourists from criminals. “I am happy that the police did not let the phenomenon continue and I am very grateful of their presence in the area”, she said with delight. The team walked into Camp 1, 6 and 10 where they met with tourists from Spain and South Africa. They appeared to be in a more relaxed atmosphere and scared of nothing else except wild animals that might walk past. One of the tourists, Mr Herman Steenkamp of Limpopo in South Africa who was with his family, told the Police Magazine team how impressed he was with the security that the Botswana Police provide not only to tourists but to the entire nation. He said they came to Botswana because they believe crime is low and under control adding that Botswana is a peaceful country and it is known of its etiquette people and courteous service. “The police are always here especially at night to keep away criminals who would want to rob us of our valuable items. We are safe, I want to thank you for that”, Mr Steenkamp said with confidence. He mentioned that they drove all the way from South Africa to relax and watch the beautiful animals that Botswana has. He said they were impressed by the excellent service at every police road block that they stopped at and said that it was a true indication of a police that has safety of all people at heart. Kasane Police Station Commander Superintendent Silton Fidzani who was with the Police Magazine team at Ihaha concurred with the Camp Manager and tourists who appreciated police presence at Ihaha. He said in the past criminals from villages along the Chobe River in the Namibian side used to cross into Botswana using paddled canoes to attack tourists. “Some of the paddled canoes that were used by these criminals have been seized from them. They attacked tourists at night and vanished with their valuable items like cameras, clothing and anything that they could lay their hands on”, he added. He further stated that they did not let this continue and ever since they deployed officers at night to provide regular foot and boat patrols no such incidents were recorded this year. Superintendent Fidzani also mentioned that Chobe is a tourism area therefore there is need for the police to employ concrete mechanisms to fight crime so that all people who visit Chobe are safe from criminals. “We are not only concentrated at Ihaha Camp Sites but we also patrol Camp Sites for the Hotel and Tourism Association of Botswana (HATAB) which are also in the Park”, Mr Fidzani pointed out that this has worked for them because no incidents were recorded since the beginning of the year. According to the statistics provided by Kasane Police, in 2010 a case of breaking into motor vehicle at Ihaha was recorded and in 2011 only one robbery case was registered. This is a clear indication that the police presence at Ihaha has brought a significant difference in reducing crime in the area.

Poaching of wild animals in the Chobe National Park is a serious threat to Botswana’s economy. If this phenomenon is allowed to continue, Botswana’s valuable trophies will be depleted and there will be nothing left to attract tourists in future. The increasing incidents of poaching in the Chobe National Park is said to be affecting giant animals like elephants and other common species like lions, buffalos, waterbucks, giraffes and many more. These species contribute immensely to the country’s economic growth and also attract tourists from far places like Asia, Europe, Australia and the United States of America. As these tourists drive on Kasane/Ngoma road just near the turn off to Kasane Airport, they are met with a very huge advertisement board written “Welcome to Chobe, Land of the Giants, which confirms the presence of diversity and concentration of animals. These giants include elephants which its poaching is said to be swelling rapidly according to the Police and the Department of Wildlife and National Parks in Chobe. In an interview with the Police Magazine during their recent visit to Chobe, Officer Commanding No.7 District which covers Pandamatenga, Kasane, Kazungula and villages of Mabele up to Parakarungu, Senior Superintendent Tamapo Nthoiwa did not hesitate to express concern about poaching in the area despite their efforts to curtail it. Mr Nthoiwa said poachers target elephants and concentrate at areas like Cream of Tartar Pans near Pandamatenga and at places like Natanga, Shaile, Maikaelelo and Ngwezuma Valley that connects to Nogatshaa in the Park. Mr Nthoiwa said that there are suspicions that these species especially elephants are killed for commercial purposes and medical use in illegal international markets. “These suspected high markets encourage this kind of poaching and this therefore calls for law enforcement officers to identify the market for elephants poachers so that these endangered species are not left to deplete” he said. Mr Nthoiwa added that another kind of poaching is performed with the objective of providing meat for household consumption. He said at times poachers were found in possession of elephants’ tusks while in some instances they found elephants carcases with no tusks. Furthermore, Mr Nthoiwa said poaching of species such as Zebras, Kudus, Impalas and Buffaloes is very low as compared to that of elephants. He said the majority of poachers are foreigners from China, Zambia, Angola and Namibia saying investigations revealed that most of the poachers were former law enforcement officers. He also revealed that poachers are well established syndicates who walk the ground on daytime and at night armed with firearms and other dangerous weapons which they use to kill animals. “We have made arrests in some of the cases and some firearms, dangerous weapons, and elephants’ tusks are in our custody and some cases relating to these weapons are still pending before the court of law. Statistics provided by Kasane Police of elephants which were found dead indicate that seven cases were recorded in 2010 in which 13 elephants were killed, in 2011; the police recorded 20 cases with 25 elephants involved. In 2012, the police recorded 18 cases involving 35 elephants while in 2013 they have recorded two cases involving four elephants. With regard to cases of unlawful possession of elephants’ tusks the police recorded 38 such cases in which 14 people of different nationalities were arrested for some of the cases from 2010 to April 2013.

The Police thwarted a possible armed robbery and arrested four suspects recently. The suspects aged between 26 and 29 years were caught in the process of robbing a liquor store in Kanye. An exchange of fire ensued between the two parties that resulted with injuries of two of the suspects and they are admitted at Princess Marina Hospital. Police investigations are continuing.

People often rush to crime scenes just to see what happened, without bearing in mind that they might cause serious injury to themselves. But on many occasions the police warn the public against rushing to crime scenes as this does not only expose their lives to danger but they may interference with any trace of evidence as the successful prosecution of a case can hinge on the state of the physical evidence at the time it is collected. Dangers of rushing to the crime scene may involve exposure to unnecessary accidents. They may also be exposed to some biological hazards which often compose of organic materials and fluids or physical hazards that may cause bodily injury or trauma. Again, some people rush to crime scene for other motives that include uploading the information/pictures on social networks or to commit a crime. For example, if there is an accident involving a truck carrying goods like food stuffs, people would usually rush there to steal them. The police usually control people rushing to crime scenes by cordoning with a tape a wide area around a crime scene to prevent access by any person other than the investigators. They also educate the public through weekly programmes such as Itshireletse TV programme, Crime File radio programme and the monthly Police Magazine. Furthermore they always advise people who want to assist in a crime scene to first save a life, instead of going for goods.

Police Senior Management has been called upon to work hard to improve performance and implementation development projects. The Commissioner of Police, Mr Keabetswe Makgophe made the call this morning (17/04/2013) in Gaborone, at a Senior Management Team meeting. He said even though the police managed to reduce overall crime during the past year there are some offences such as murder, store breaking, rape and stock theft that continue to pose as a challenge. He implored them to significantly strive to reduce the offences in order to achieve the set targets during 2013/2014 plan period. The Commissioner appealed to commanders to influence their subordinates to do more and empower them with knowledge and skills so that they can contribute fully towards the success of the organisation. Mr Makgophe, encouraged the commanders to strategically utilise the meagre resources that are at their disposal in order to meet customer expectations. The meeting is intended to review progress of the objectives and initiatives of the Annual Policing Plan and appreciate progress on special projects allocated to various commanders.