Robust intelligence reduces cash in transit crime
Minister of Defence and Security Thomas Mmusi says there are positive results in the fight against incidents of Cash-In-Transit heists and explosive attacks on Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) which have been on the rise over the past years, with perpetrators getting away with large sums of money.
He said key to the realisation of these successes are robust intelligence-led counter measures by the Botswana Police Service and strategic partnership with other security agencies. Cooperation with security industry stakeholders and consultation with the banking business players has also been critical in bringing this crime under control.
Mmusi stated that current manpower has proved to be inadequate to address the rapidly increasing and complex crimes and other emerging security challenges, amongst them cybercrime, cash in transit heists, gender-based violence and livestock rustling.
“There is therefore need for a significant surge in police numbers to mitigate these security challenges. To this end, I am grateful that Government approved manpower positions for Botswana Police Service to employ 1000 police officers for the 2022/2023 financial year.
“The last batch of 500 recruits of the 1 000 will be graduating on the 30th of March 2023. Additionally, an establishment of another 1 000 new police officers will be recruited to strengthen the Botswana Police Service in the coming financial year 2023/24,” Mmusi said when presenting his ministry’s budget for financial year 2023/24
The minister told Parliament that the unique and complex environment in policing urban areas challenges the Botswana Police Service to continually explore alternative strategies in order to suppress criminality. He said Gaborone and Francistown in particular, require the establishment of a unit dedicated to city policing.
“This proposed City Policing Unit will require additional manpower and other resources in order to ensure that the cities are safe and secure. Expansion of the Safer City Project is ongoing in Gaborone and peripheral villages of
Tlokweng, Mmopane, Mogoditshane, Metsimotlhabe, as well as in the City of Francistown with 1 800 cameras to cover 600 sites. This is expected to be completed by December 2024. These interventions will improve police visibility in the streets and reduce crime,” Mmusi revealed.
On the issue of drugs, the minister stated that the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) was established to comply with Anti-Money Laundering/Counter Financing of Terrorism and Proliferation (AML/CFT&P) of international obligations which required Botswana to strengthen its terrorism financing legislative framework in line with AML/CFT&P laws and international standards.
He indicated that the effective operationalisation of DEA will therefore, enhance Botswana’s crime prevention institutional framework, particularly in relation to drug trafficking and other contraband associated with illicit drugs and psychotropic substances.
The minister stated that the extent and consequences of production and trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances has been documented globally, with rising trends over time.
He revealed that Botswana has been experiencing comparable prevalence. Popular illicit drugs and substances in Botswana include dagga, meth-cathinone, Mandrax and cocaine. Other illicit drugs and substances such as heroine and ecstasy have also been introduced into the illicit drug consumers market either for local and/or external use.
Mmusi explained that trafficking and use of illicit drugs and psychotropic substances is detrimental to health and welfare of families, and equally influences violent crimes, compromising public safety and security.