Namibian Police Force Commander for the Hardap Region, Commissioner John Lifasi has hailed community members of the Namib-Naukluft park areas for assisting the police in crime reduction and prevention, stating that they have been instrumental in curbing criminal activity.
The Sesriem Police Station, which forms part of the Namib-Naukluft Park area in Hardap, has since January recorded three criminal cases only. Two are theft by employees and one, housebreaking.
Sesriem station commander Luhantro Hebach last week during a police regional visit stated that only these cases were registered from lodges and surrounding farms since January.
He said this was partly also because the COVID-19 pandemic has left the park underpopulated due to the absence of visitors, while also noting that community members have been forthcoming in terms of assisting the police in preventing crimes, supplying vehicles and patrolling their farms on a daily basis.
In an interview with Nampa, Lifasi noted that credit should also be accorded to different stakeholders who prioritise their properties and human lives, thus at the same time assisting the force in preventing and reducing crimes.
Lifasi said even though activity in the park has started to pick up amidst the effects of COVID-19, no attacks or theft on tourists were recorded thus far, adding that effective community policing has contributed positively to reducing crime, while also helping to reduce fear of crime.
He said the Landscape Association in Sesriem donated a vehicle to the force six years ago.
“The community has significantly contributed to a decline in criminal activity in these areas, the vehicle they donated really helped the station with patrol activities and more,” noted Lifasi.
He went on to say that the Swartrand Farmers Watch has been pivotal in assisting the police with border patrol and in the process contributed to two arrests. The Swartrand Farmers Watch was started in 2016 by farm owners who saw the need to protect their own properties. It has more than 30 members.
The Hardap Region has recorded 1 811 cases as of January 2021, mostly of domestic assault and stock theft, with Rehoboth and Mariental recording the bulk of the cases.
Source: Namibia Press Agency
