Omusati police boss says rural crime thrives as criminals dodge community meetings
Omusati regional commander commissioner Ismael Basson says the police are struggling to detect and prevent crime in rural areas due to limited resources and because criminals do not show up at community meetings.
Basson yesterday told The Namibian that the police in the region hosts community meetings in remote rural areas almost every day.
“Community members always show up for these meetings, but the real criminals who need to hear the police’s message are never in attendance,” he said.
He said when the police visit communities, criminals go into hiding.
Basson urged criminals to attend these meetings to be sensitised on the dangers of committing crime.
“However, community policing is ongoing and it’s aggressive in battling crime,” he said.
The rural areas in the northern regions have become notorious for crime, the regional commissioner said.
The Omusati region reported 4 529 criminal cases between 2022 and the first quarter of 2023, while 200 cases of rape were reported between January 2023 and August 2024.
Basson blamed this on limited resources and the unwillingness of some community members to cooperate with the police.
He said local meetings often go to waste as the real criminals “do not have time to attend them”.
“As part of our rural policing strategy, we try to bring police services closer to the people by going out to schools, churches and the communities to try and talk to our people, but at times it seems we are targeting the wrong people because the real criminals are never present in these meetings.
“However, we are satisfied with the response from community members and their willingness to work hand in hand with the police,” he said.
Basson called on communities in the region to join the fight against crime by establishing community policing networks.
He also called on community members to prioritise the protection of women, children and businesses, and to avoid engaging in criminal activities.
He highlighted a low supply of efficient vehicles to reach remote areas, and sandy roads and terrain as challenges in the Omusati region.
“I understand that many communities are in dire need of police stations, but a police station is not enough to fight crime.
“We could have police stations at every village, but the crime rate would still be on the increase. Everyone should be a police officer and work hand in hand with the police,” said Basson.
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