Reflections on BPS’ 140 years of policing
Pini Bothoko | Tuesday August 6, 2024 09:06
Cash-in-transit and ATM bombings The BPS managed to curb cash-in transit heists and ATM bombings which were threatening the country’s economy as criminals targeted and overpowered security company guards and made away with large sums of money. Cash-in-transit heists surfaced in Botswana back in 2019 and cash stolen in all heists amounted to a total of P22.6 million, which left many businesses on their knees. For almost four years the country had experienced an upsurge of these robberies where in most cases fire arms were used and thereby posing danger to the lives of both members of the public and law enforcement officers. Despite managing to curb the scourge, the police are yet to recover P17.5 million of the stolen cash as they only managed to recuperate P5.1 million.
These incidents spiralled out of control in 2021 as the country recorded 14 cases and six in 2022 something that then forced the Minister of Defence and Security, Kagiso Mmusi, to boldly instruct the police to do whatever it takes to eliminate crime- a move that was followed by the infamous shooting of 10 robbery suspects at Phase 2 location, Gaborone. Concerning the ATM blasts, two incidents were recorded in 2019, five in 2021 and nine in 2022 respectively but the BPS also managed to curb these cases at the beginning of 2023. Home invasions Also on a positive note, the BPS also managed to reduce cases of home invasions which were a concern especially in the Greater Gaborone by introducing City Policing unit in December 2023 focusing on patrols especially during peculiar hours. Those staying in the affected areas were living in constant fear of criminals who attacked them in the comfort of their homes, or as they arrived at their dwellings while awaiting by the gates at night. The criminals would normally get away with residents’ valuables using force keeping police on their toes.
These cases have relatively reduced as weeks went with no new recorded cases, especially at the hotspots like Tsholofelo East, Phakalane, Tlokweng and Modipane. Stock theft Still on a positive note, the BPS seem to be arresting the stock theft crime as they have managed to come up with campaigns focusing on identifying and cracking stock theft syndicates and appear to be winning as demonstrated by their strings of arrest. Upon realising a rise in cattle rustling in 2018, the BPS launched anti-cattle theft campaigns through Kgomo-Khumo to curb the scourge as cattle rustlers were causing great misery to farmers, especially in rural communities that largely depend on agriculture for sustenance. Police managed to identify hotspots, their market and managed to disturb all the actions of stock theft networks countrywide, something that one can safely say indeed the police are doing the most to curb this problem. Gender-based violence However, as a cause for concern, the police have over the years been struggling to curb gender-based violence (GBV) cases as murder, rape and defilement continue to spiral out of control with women and girls who are usually victims continuing to live in fear of criminals.
On a daily basis, women are killed at the hands of their male lovers in what is often glorified as ‘passion killings’ and the police are struggling to contain these cases as they continue to spiral out of control despite their efforts. Ending violence against women and girls remains a challenge for the police, with recorded disturbing cases in which women and children are abused, sexually assaulted, and even killed by their male partners, relatives and/or acquaintances. Murder In the past, people used to be able to control anger or frustration and channel those feelings to non-destructive outlets but of late, they have been exhibiting a frightening lack of control something that has resulted in alarming cases of violent crimes like murder. Dozens of people continue to kill each other following disputes at entertainment places like bars and at homes something that police are also failing to contain despite measures in place to sensetise members of the public to respect the sanctity of human life. We seem to be living in an angry society which no longer value human life choosing to kill whenever it suits them as even mechanisms in the form of death penalty cannot stop murder incidents. The police have since pointed out that most of murder cases occur as a result of petty issues which include arguments during beer drinking, fights over money and arguments of partners in love relationships. In a shocking twist, men have started to kill their own children punishing their mothers after a misunderstanding or when a relationship has gone sour. In a case that left the whole nation reeling in shock early last year, a doctor allegedly killed his two children and committed suicide in Tsholofelo East, Gaborone. As if that was not enough, recently a father also killed his three sons at Tati Siding in a heart-wrenching tragedy that the whole nation is still struggling to come to terms with. Rape There is a general expectation for the police to play a critical role as the initial responders to cases of violence.
However, the men and women in uniform continue to struggle to curb rape cases as women and girls live in the deepest fear of rapists who violate them even in the comfort of their homes. Women and girls are aroused from their sleep in an attack and raped while walking alone at night. The World Population Review of 2023 cites Botswana as having the highest incidents of rape in the world, at 92.93 per 100,000 people, as rape remains one of the most devastating, persistent, and widespread human rights violations. Reports further indicate that over two-thirds of women in Botswana report having experienced some form of gender violence in their lifetime, including partner and non-partner violence with rape not spared. Defilement Despite the recent government measures to address this scourge, including setting up special courts and establishing a sex offender’s register, defilement cases continue to spiral out of control.
Weekly, some areas in Botswana record two to three cases of defilement, a nerve-wreaking trend that has become a norm despite several interventions by the police and other stakeholders to nip the rape incidents in the bud. For years, the country has been battling with escalating cases of defilement that continue to spiral despite efforts in place to curb the scourge especially in the mining town of Letlhakane and its environs. The police have in the past highlighted that most of the perpetrators of rape and defilement in the area were illiterate with some being school dropouts who did not care about the rule of law especially GBV related issues. It is believed that historically, according to the inhabitants’ traditions and beliefs, it was not wrong for an elderly to either impregnate a minor or sexually molest any minor as assailants for years remained unpunished.
That has resulted in most culprits going unpunished as the victims or even the family of the victims do not report such cases. However, with efforts in place, more of these cases are now coming out as more girls can open up to their teachers who report such cases to the police and perpetrators are brought before justice. But, despite these efforts, these cases remain a concern as men continue to sexually violate minors. As the police march past in a ceremonial parade at the stadium, trumpets blaring at their highest pitches, disciplined horses suppressing their neighs and proudly hitting the ground in unison, motor bikes ramming past, helicopters and a jet roaring above the skies and many more, the female-led (Commissioner Dinah Marathe) BPS will remain a proud institution in terms of achievements of over the years after what seemed like a struggle to contain crime. There is no doubt that even when some of their services have room for improvement, the BPS has become widely recognised by its peers for its accomplishments 140 years later.