Malawi Police Service Inspector General (IG), Paul Kanyama has urged police officers to be tough on criminals while observing human rights in order to eliminated crime in the country.

Kanyama was speaking at the official handover ceremony of five vehicles to Lilongwe Police station which will be used to revive the rapid response unit (990) of Lilongwe police and its surrounding zones.

 

“We need to think and plan beyond the criminal mind so that we can face them head-on and eradicate crime in the country.

“Police officers must also be well armed and equipped when responding to criminal activities according to situation assessment because a police officer cannot respond to situation where a criminal has an AK47 with a stick,” he said.

He also urged the officers to serve Malawians with integrity in order to win back the people’s trust in the police service.

“Recently we have had cases of police officers conniving with criminals which are very distressing. How can police officers connive with criminals who are killing fellow officers? The killing of a fellow officer should be a wakeup call to all police officers that it’s high time they dealt with crime severely.

“I would also like to warn officers conniving with criminals that I will treat you as a criminal and you will face the music,” he warned.

He also warned against misuse of the vehicles.

Lilongwe police station Officer in-Charge Jimmy Gama thanked the government for the vehicles and warned criminals that their honeymoon was over.

He said the vehicles would help the rapid response team to respond to distress calls rapidly and effectively.

He also promised the IG that the vehicles would be used for the intended purpose.

The vehicles are among the fifty (50) the president promised to buy for the Malawi Police Service and 35 have been delivered so far.

The IG was accompanied by his Deputies Paul Kachama and Rodney Jose.

He also revealed that the government would buy the police 100 more vehicles on top of the fifty the President promised earlier.