By JULIUS PHIRI –
THE Zambia Police Service has made strides in curbing crime, and this is partly because of community involvement in crime prevention and management.
On their own, the men and women in uniform cannot combat crime, thus, the involvement of community members in crime prevention, public security and safety is what is referred to as community policing.
Community policing in the Zambia Police Service is coordinated by the Community Services Directorate (CSD) which was established to bridge the gap between the police and the public.
This is an initiative born out of the realisation that policing was no longer a preserve of police officers alone, but a realisation that community participation was key to effective crime prevention and prompt response to crimes.
The CSD comprises the Victim Support Unit (VSU), child protection, school liaison committees, community safety and the chaplaincy.
According to Eastern Province police CSD poordinator Gloria Mubita, the VSU was created by an Act of Parliament, the Zambia Police Amendment Act No. 14 of 1999.
The Act in Section 53(1) stipulates that there shall be a victim support unit at all stations and posts to be administered by police officers appointed by the Inspector General of Police.
Section 53(2) spells out the functions of the VSU as to provide professional counselling to crime victims and to offenders.
It also aims at protecting citizens from all forms of abuse. It is in this vein that police officers in the VSU may coordinate with the civil society and professional bodies in carrying out their duties.
Ms Mubita said child protection was a specialised unit established to deal with the abuse of children.
“It also has the mandate to sensitise children on their rights and duties as well as responsibilities especially when children find themselves in conflict with the law.
“The establishment of the Child Protection Unit (CPU) was meant to enhance juvenile justice by relieving the VSU which was overwhelmed with cases of sexual and gender-based violence,” she said.
She explained that from inception, VSU dealt with cases committed against the unborn, like the attempted abortions and abortions, child desertions up to the elderly people who were usually victimised for being suspected of practising witchcraft, among other reasons.
Like the VSU, the role of CPU officers was to arrest, investigate and counsel both juvenile victims and offenders.
She explained that CPU officers, like their counterparts in the VSU, also sensitise communities about child rights and all abuses against children such as defilement, indecent assault, child marriages, assault and battery on children.
Ms Mubita said CSD conducts sensitisation programmes in the communities on any offence other than sexual and gender-based violence.
She said police officers in the CSD were specialised and were fully trained to deal with any other offences like the rest of the officers working in other police departments.
“These officers work right in the communities, schools, colleges, villages and market places where they carry out interactive sensitisation programmes,” she said.
However, others may not necessarily join any neighborhood watch group in their area, but may decide to take action by reporting sexual and gender-related offences or any other offences to the police.
Despite the fact that officers in the two units deal with all forms of abuses, CSD officers also include in their awareness programmes other offences committed in the communities.
Apart from gender-based violence related cases, Ms Mubita said CSD also sensitises school pupils and students on examination malpractices and riotous behaviour, among other offences, through the Schools Liaisons Unit (SLU).
It is usually during these sensitisation sessions that community members begin to develop interest in the safety of their neighbourhoods.
The members also use such fora to express their concerns, offer solutions and take action either by joining already established neighbourhood watch groups in their areas or establishing new ones.
Once formed, the Community Safety Unit (CSU) facilitates registration of the neighbourhood watch groups with the registrar of societies.
Ms Mubita explained that the CSU adopts the problem-solving strategy as an effective way of community policing.
She said this strategy enables community members to identify recurrent crimes, analyse causes of the identified crimes and then identify implementation of recommended remedies to reduce the incidence of the identified crimes.
She said the role of the divisional chaplain in the Zambia Police Service could not be overemphasised.
She explained that the chaplain offers a range of such services to the community as counselling couples with marital disputes.
She said the Zambia Police was coordinating with various stakeholders like the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA), Jesus Cares Ministries, Social Welfare and the ministry of Health.
“The Zambia Police community service directorate works with local, national and international partners,” she said.
She also said the traditional leadership equally plays a significant role and was among the key stakeholders.
Chief Madzimawe of the Ngoni-speaking people was cited to be one such traditional leader who has taken a leading role in the fight against gender-based violence.
The traditional leader works closely with the police to combat child marriages and defilements in his chiefdom.
Apart from the traditional leadership, the Zambia Centre for Communications Programmes (ZCCP) is also a partner in the fight against GBV.
The joint programme is supported by various partners who include United Nations (UN) agencies, the Swedish government and other donors.
According to Ms Mubita, each of the partners identifies an area of support. She said the media also plays an important role in creation of awareness.
During this year’s Police Open Day at Chipata Central Police Station, Eastern Province police commissioner Alex Chilufya urged police officers to strive towards upholding professionalism, integrity, accountability, confidentiality, impartiality and team work.
In a speech read on his behalf by division criminal investigation officer Christopher Kanema, Mr Chilufya urged the officers to be of good character.
He said being a member of the Zambia Police was a constitutional requirement as enshrined in Article 227(1) of the Republican Constitution, which provides that the Zambia Police Service shall be nationalistic, patriotic, professional, disciplined and competent.
“In this regard, I want to warn all the police officers to be alert and desist from engaging in activities that will bring the name of the Zambia Police into ridicule as doing so would be breaching constitutional requirements especially in the computer age where everyone is active on social media,” he said.
Mr Chilufya warned that erring police officers would be disciplined in accordance with the provisions of the Zambia Police Act.
He said the police should remain accountable to the people of Zambia in their duties.
Mr Chilufya further expressed sadness at the increase in fatal road traffic accidents in Eastern Province.
He said 1,431 accidents were reported in 2015, showing an increase in road traffic accidents from 1,220 reported in 2014.
Out of 1,431 road traffic accidents, 151 were fatal while 303 resulted in serious injuries.
“Slight injuries and damage accounted for 329 and 648, respectively. In the 151 fatal accidents reported, 58 persons were pedestrians, 50 motor vehicle passengers, 16 motor vehicle drivers, 34
cyclists, seven motor cycle/scooter riders, seven pedal cycle passengers and four were motor cycle/scooter passengers,” Mr Chilufya said.
He also said the province recorded 1,231 cases of GBV in 2015 compared to 798 cases recorded in 2014.
“Of the 1,231 cases reported, 247 were defilements of which only three boys were defiled. A total of 19 convictions were secured,” he said.
Mr Chilufya urged the public to report all cases of GBV to the police for the vice to be vigorously fought.
He commended the Government for procuring four vehicles and 10 motor tricycles for the police.
Mr Chilufya also appealed to the Government and the business community to consider helping the police with building materials for completion of the construction of provincial divisional headquarters at Chipata Central Police.
Chipata District Commissioner Kalunga Zulu said Government remained committed to issues of security in the country.
He said the Government desires to see a disciplined police service that would respect human rights.
Mr Zulu urged the police to continue protecting the vulnerable women and children from abuse.
He said police officers should bring perpetrators of GBV to book as doing so would considerably protect children from abuses.
He also appealed to political parties to respect the provisions of the Public Order Act to avoid unnecessary clashes with the police.
Mr Zulu said as the country heads towards the August 11 polls, all political players should desist from provocative actions.
He said it was important that police officers realise the role of the public in enhancing community policing.
This calls for the protection of the whistle blowers as part of improving community policing.