The Botswana Police Service (BPS) newly introduced Internal Affairs Unit has started its work of addressing reports and complaints relating to violations of police rules and regulations by police officers themselves. The unit was established independently from other branches and is staffed with un-uniformed investigators drawn from existing workforce.
The formation of the Unit follows a number of public complaints and reports on police misconduct and corruption bordering around bribery, torture and unlawful arrest issues. The unit intends to focus its investigations on reports relating to corrupt practices, excessive use of force, misuse of public resources, unlawful arrest, and detention, torture, abuse of office, neglect of duty and any action taken by police officers that can lead to a miscarriage of justice.
The new Internal Affairs Unit head, Assistant Commissioner Mojadi Mosarwa urged customers, both internal and external to file reports of police misconduct to any nearest police station verbally, telephonically or written and said those wishing to directly contact the Unit can call 3957242, 3957227 and 3957240 during week days.
She also expects police officers to report any perceived violation of BPS regulations, procedures and orders committed by their fellow colleagues in order to root out corrupt practices that threaten BPS integrity and good image built for many years. She further assured the public that their investigations are fast, fair and objective, saying unsatisfied customers have an option to appeal or seek legal advice.
Completed investigations, according to Ms Mosarwa would be forwarded to the Commissioner of Police for final decisions together with their recommendations. This arrangement, however, differs with others in other police services where completed investigations are first forwarded to an independent Advisory Action Board comprising civilian members who review the proceedings before presenting them to the Chief of Police or Commissioner who decides whether a disciplinary action should be administered to an officer.
Internal Affairs is hailed in both developed and developing countries for its fair and objective resolution to complaints of police misconduct. The Unit, that in some police services is called professional standards unit, integrity unit, compliance unit or inspectorate general unit also helps police services to track positive trends such as changes in employee behaviour, resource needs and administrative needs.