Coronavirus did not halt Police operations

RNP spokesperson, CP John Bosco Kabera

Kigali: Rwanda National Police (RNP) spokesperson, Commissioner of Police (CP) John Bosco Kabera said that the pandemic of COVID-19 did neither weaken nor stop usual Police operations against lawlessness.

He warned law-breakers not to look and at this period and interpret it as an opportunity to engage in criminal activities.

“We are not consumed by the current situation; we are engaged in all operations against criminality and implementing all issued directives including those related to preventing further spread of Coronavirus,” CP Kabera said.

The spokesperson shade the light on the policing activities in this period on Monday while appearing on Waramutse Rwanda, a morning show on Rwanda Television.

He thanked the role of the public for their role in fighting and preventing crimes through information sharing.

Rwanda started drafting and implementing measures against Coronavirus in mid March when the first case was detected in the country. RNP is at the centre of implementing all the directives.

Since then, many people have also been arrested either violating the directives or in criminal acts such as drug trafficking and local retailers, smuggling; drunkenness and related unlawful acts such as assault; illegal mining and trade of minerals, among others.

Although RNP is engaged in enforcing the directives on COVID -19, the safety of people in Rwanda and their property is the force’s overall priority concept.

“Many drug dealers, smugglers, illegal dealers in minerals, thieves have been arrested in this period. So don’t be deceived, we are wide awake, you will be arrested.

It’s both committing a crime and breaching government directives and derailing efforts against the pandemic,” CP Kabera said.

“Community policing empowers the people to be custodians of the law in their localities, it has become a force multiplier to detect, fight and prevent crimes.”

He urged the general public to continue exercising their policing rights by utilizing the RNP communication channels. (Fin)