Neno Police vows to beat own record

Tom Sangala June 29, 2017

232 1 minute read

Officers at Neno Police Station have vowed to retain the Commissioner’s Trophy during the second quarter of the year.

The trophy is competed for by all police stations under Southern Region Police and the winner is selected on the basis of reducing crime in each of the four quarters of the year.

Neno, which has 84 police officers against a population of over 130,000, won the trophy after reducing crime by 49 percent in the first quarter of the year.

The station achieved the feat against challenges such as lack of officers’ houses and absence of vehicles for conducting operations.

It also has the challenge of operating from a small, dilapidated building which was inherited from the Ministry of Health.

But the station’s Officer-in-Charge, Maxton Kalimanjira, said his station wanted to retain the trophy because his officers have continued to work hard in reducing crime from the time they won the trophy.

“We won the trophy without a vehicle for our operations. Even without proper offices and officers’ houses, we were still motivated enough to win the trophy. I have no doubt that the trophy will remain here,” Kalimanjira said during a recent community policing forum station executive committee meeting.

He cited the end of attacks on trains ferrying coal from Moatize in Mozambique through the district as one of his station’s achievements.

Kalimanjira also highlighted reduced cases of ritual killings which were common in the district as another factor that would help the station retain the trophy.

Southern Region Police Community Policing Coordinator, Alex Simenti, commended the station for its continued efforts in reducing crime.

“As police officers, we are charged with the responsibility of detecting and preventing crime. But for those that have already committed the crimes, it is our duty to arrest and take them to a court of law.

“So, we will be looking into all those factors to determine which station wins the trophy for the second quarter of the year,” Simenti said.

He said that the trophy was introduced to motivate police stations in the region to further reduce crime and ensure a safe and secure environment for all Malawians.