Police IG talks tough on gun crime
Inspector General (IG) of Police Lexten Kachama has urged his charges not to retreat or surrender to “ruthless criminals” while fighting crime.
Kachama called for zero-tolerance to crime on Wednesday when he assured business captains of ceaseless security despite an unsettling spate of armed robberies, including those involving police staff conspiring with hard-core criminals.
However, the police chief made no guarantees to provide adequate bullet-proof jackets and other protective gear to safeguard lives of police officers in high-risk missions after two of them were gunned down by criminals during a bank escort for Petroda (Malawi) Limited in Lilongwe two weeks ago.
The police boss read a five-point strategy giving a glimpse of a renewed clampdown on crime, saying police will not sit aside while ruthless criminals attack people and property.
Highlights of the crackdown include increasing police visibility in cities and rural localities, beefing up rapid response with more patrol vehicles and rewarding outstanding officers.
Businesspeople and community policing members welcomed the interventions as proactive and timely, but asked Kachama and company to equip police officers with requisite law enforcement tools.
