Let’s fight criminals, increase security—CR police chief

New Commissioner for Central Region Police George Kainja has admitted that violent crimes like murders, robberies, arson and defilement are on the increase and that there is need for concerted efforts from the police and the general public to arrest the trend.

Speaking in an interview soon after opening a senior management meeting for police officers drawn from all districts in the Central Region on Friday, Kainja said the crime rate increase is worrisome, hence the need to revisit strategies so that crimes that bring public insecurity are reduced at all cost.

Said Kainja: “It is pleasing that the region has experienced a 6.4 percent reduction in reported criminal cases and 7.3 percent reduction in recorded accidents during the past six months.

However, violent crimes like murders, robberies, arson and defilement registered increases and the frequency at which they occurred is worrisome.”

He said for the police to reduce crime considerably, there is a need to migrate from the traditional way of reactive policing to proactive policing, where the main focus should be crime prevention, rather than detection.

On the tendency by some police officers to aid criminals, Kainja said it is unfortunate that when others are trying hard to fight crime, some within the system are defeating the very same task they are expected to undertake.

Said Kainja: “As a region, we cannot tolerate such behaviour and I would like to ask all station commanders to make sure that those involved in crime or criminal activities are exposed, so that the law must take its course.” n