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Members of the police

Bulawayo Bureau
POLICE have between January and June recorded 100 215 cases of major crimes, a two percent decline compared to 102 288 cases during the same period last year, with a significant reduction in murder and armed robberies. Speaking during a pass-out parade for 542 graduates at Ntabazinduna Police Training Depot yesterday, Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri, who was the reviewing officer, said during the first half of the year they recorded a seven percent decrease in murder cases, while armed robberies went down by 31 percent.

“I am delighted to highlight that crimes of concern decreased by two percent from 102 288 cases recorded between January and June last 2012, compared to 100 215 cases received during the same period this year,” he said.

“It is important to note that significant decreases were recorded in murder, theft of motor vehicle and armed robbery which decreased by seven percent, eight percent and 37 percent respectively.”

Comm-Gen Chihuri expressed concern over the increase in rape and stock-theft cases.
“We handled a six percent increase in rape cases for juveniles and three percent for adults while stock-theft also went up by five percent and that is certainly an issue of grave concern to us,” he said.

“It is also disturbing to note that crimes of passion and cases of rape against defenceless juveniles continue to rise.”
Comm-Gen Chihuri said they would continue with awareness campaigns in the fight against crime and called on stakeholders to complement police efforts in enhancing the protection of vulnerable children in the society.

He commended police and stakeholders for playing a key role that saw the country co-hosting a peaceful and successful 20th session of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) general assembly in Victoria Falls last week.

“I would like to commend all stakeholders who joined hands with police in their remarkable contributions which ensured our successful co-hosting of the UNWTO general assembly with Zambia,” said Comm-Gen Chihuri.

Comm-Gen Chihuri said through the UNWTO, Zimbabweans demonstrated to the whole world that they were peace-loving, hospitable and progressive people.

He challenged the new police recruits to foster sound partnership with communities in fighting crime on deployment in line with the ZRP community policing programme.