The ||Kharas Region has recorded a 37% decrease in crime since the start of the festive season.

Police Regional Commander, Commissioner Marius Katamila, attributed the crime reduction to police visibility, quick response time, and public collaboration.

Three hundred and 78 crimes were reported this year, compared to six hundred during the same period last year.

Only nine housebreaking cases were reported, which is less than the thirty-nine reported the previous year.

There were only two murder cases reported throughout the region.

A total of three cases of rape were reported, which increased by two compared to one incident the previous year.

Drug and road traffic-related crimes have also drastically dropped, with only fifteen and four reported, respectively. 

"Very importantly, we had some strategies we put in place. First and foremost, we partnered with the town of Keetmanshoop, where we identified hotspots that were totally in darkness, and the council really came to our aid; they put up some lights. Number two, we increased our patrols in the areas where crimes are prevalent, and, very importantly, we had very good collaboration with the community. Number three, our response time to crime has drastically reduced because we came together and we analysed that we have the capability and ability to respond on time, so we deployed accordingly to make sure all crimes reported are attended to."

Giving an update on the Hosh Hosh Gang, which has been terrorising the Keetmanshoop residents, Commissioner Katamila says only isolated cases involving members of the gang were reported.

"The bigger picture behind everything else is the drug war we are having in Keetmanshoop, so we have zeroed in on some of the kingpins, and with them out of circulation, obviously that had an impact on the activity of these Hosh Hosh Gangs. As a result, although we had isolated incidents, most of them are there, but they are not really keen on committing crime. So, it is the solution to the problem we have been facing all along: the involvement of parents and members of the community at large, which is the strategy to keep the Hosh Hosh Gang at bay."

Commissioner Katamila expressed gratitude to the police force members who complied with the request to forgo taking their yearly leave during the months of December and January to combat crime and maintain law over the festive season.