Crime Prevention Unit -

The Crime Prevention Unit is responsible for the control and prevention of crime in Windhoek. The Unit is also responsible for implementing municipal by-laws which are public regulatory laws applicable in a specific municipal area. A municipal by-law is no different than any other national law and it can be enforced with penalties, challenged in court, and must comply with other national laws, such as the constitution. Apart from traditional law enforcement activities, the unit uses four operational strategies to prevent crime through a partnership with the community, namely:

 

  • Intelligence-Led Policing – Under the intelligence-led policing, all offenders are profiled and their movements are closely monitored using various operational methods such as technology, informants, and assistance from community members. It is through this means that we can prevent many planned criminal activities or force criminals to abandon their intended plans.

     

  • Use of Technology – The unit makes use of closed-circuit television (CCTV) as a proactive way for crime prevention which complements the conventional crime prevention methods that the law enforcement officers are applying on a day to day basis. The unit has over 125 surveillance cameras installed at crime-prone areas around the city, and they are monitored 24 hours by City Police.

     

  • Zonal Policing – The service has realigned its operational model and demarcated the City of Windhoek into twenty-two (22) operational Zones. Each zone has permanent patrol members who are focused on building relationships with the community to combat crime. This model has enhanced trust between police and the community, and it has tremendously improved police response time.

     

  • Community Policing – Community policing is the core policing concept of the Windhoek City Police Service, as it puts emphasis on community involvement. It includes forming partnerships with the community, identifying the underlying cause of crime and disorder, and jointly finding solutions that would disallow the re-occurrence of the problem.

     

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