NW police ready for heightened criminal risk during LGE: Boshielo

Deputy Minister of Police Dr Polly Boshielo says, while the North West battles criminal activities such as illegal mining, illicit drugs and illegal alcohol labs, many of these operations have been exposed and dismantled due to intensified ongoing policing.

Speaking during the launch of the Provincial Safer Festive Season Operations at Lehurutshe near Zeerust in the North West, Dr Boishelo outlined law enforcement’s readiness to address the heightened risk of criminal activity during the elections and the festive season.

Boshielo says North West law enforcement agencies are hard at work tackling crime in the province.

“North West has been coming up, and we have seen the show of force, including the airwing and the drone. They have a helicopter, not only the drone. The crime rate in North West has always been coming down, that’s why I’m talking about it. The dismantling of drug labs show you that policing works so hard in this province. That’s why you also see Operation Prosper, where the SANDF is also here to back up our police. It means we are serious. BMA is here.”

Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant-General Arthur Peter Adams says the police are preparing to secure voting stations during local government elections, with deployment based on the risk level of each station.

” The North West is preparing to be of service to 1 730 voting stations across this province. All those voting stations will be policed from the 2nd, the 3rd and the 4th of November. Some of them are categorised as low risk, medium risk and high risk, and that also indicates what will be our deployment.”

The scourge of violence against vulnerable groups was raised as a concern.

Local NGO Kgaratlhelo Foundation’s Onica Masemola says, “The police are understaffed. When you go to the large Zeerust Police Station, you will find only two police officers on duty at night. We are asking for the return of the TRT to the community because our community is suffering. Crime is high and rape is increasing. An elderly woman was recently killed in her house because there is no security in the community.”

The Provincial Safer Festive Season Operations run from October until 31 January, alongside Operation Shanela.