King happy with police work

He expressed his pleasure yesterday during the celebration of the Police Day and the Police Pass Out Ceremony. He said this demonstrated the police’s commitment to duty and doing their best to ensure that there was no room for criminal activities in the country.

He said, "Crime in not only the enemy of peace, but it can also prejudice the collective efforts of our nation to create a vibrant economy and improve living standards of our people."

His Majesty defined the national long-term vision as that of attaining First World status and said it could not be achieved in an environment where there is crime.

 "The nation continues to be impressed with your good work. In addition, they are also involved in social programmes aimed at supporting government’s efforts of sustainable development and community empowerment."

The King reminded the police on the nature of the job they have chosen and said it required one to be on duty throughout.

"You should be able to respond to distress calls and provide assistance whenever you are called to do so. Accordingly, the nation expects you to exhibit an exemplary character both in and out of uniform," he said.

The King welcomed police officers from the Republic of South Africa who were present at the event. He said their presence was clear indication of the cordial and friendly ties that exist between the two countries. "This also illustrates that our police service works harmoniously and cooperates with our neighbours," he said.

The King said the commemoration of the Police Day gave the opportunity to celebrate the existence of the police and appreciate the vital role they play in society. His Majesty said, "Traditionally, the work of the police has been seen by the nation and the police themselves, as solely concerned with law enforcement – arresting those that break the law. In the past when people saw a police car they would run away to hide from the police (batsi tinyawo ngetfwale).

The King said these were modern times where police served as negotiators and mediators to those in dispute. "They also render professional support to victims of domestic violence, child abuse and other cases which elicit emotional trauma. Furthermore they are involved in outreach programmes such as crime prevention campaigns. They visit schools to sensitise about the problems that can arise if they do things that are against the law," he said.

He appealed to the nation to continue giving the police all the support and assistance they need in the course of executing their duties and also warned them against protecting and hiding criminals. "To the passing out contingent, this day is no doubt a very important one in your lives. It serves as the launching pad for your careers as police officers. In your new working environment, you shall find experienced police officers who shall teach and guide you on how best to do your job. Therefore, I implore you to learn from them as they are a wealth of knowledge," he said.

He emphasised on discipline, saying all officers were expected to respect their fellow colleagues and those in authority. The King said in the event there were issues the police wanted to raise, they should follow proper channels and structures to bring them to the attention of those in leadership. "You must always remember the oath of office and loyalty which you took before the nation. Such an oath is not a mere recitation of words, but contains values that must be the driving force throughout your policing career."

Listing accomplishments made by the police recently, Police Commissioner Isaac Magagula said they have been able to make breakthroughs in cases of theft of school computers, copper wire, armed robberies, rapes and drug trafficking mainly in the suburbs of the country.

He said they have also been able to reduce traffic accidents by 10 per cent between January and June, through increasing police’s visibility. "Effective public order management is crucial for the preservation of peace. We therefore strengthened the training of officers on public order policing management through regular short focused courses and intensified visible policing during public disorder situations," he said.

The event that started at about 11:20am was attended by about 3 000 parents, well-wishers and members of the general public.

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