SMS crime hotline launched

CRIME-FIGHTING in Windhoek gained a new ally yesterday, in the form of a new Anonymous SMS crime hot line.

The initiative, the brainchild of Kosmos 94.1, will allow witnesses to report suspicious activity around the city to the Windhoek City Police by sending text messages, while being assured of complete anonymity.This, City Police Chief Abraham Kanime explained yesterday, is because the City’s database separates the informer’s number from the message sent upon arrival at the call center.Dynamic Mobile Solutions, OfficEconomix, SGA Chartered Accountants and Auditors, and The Namibian newspaper make up the remaining sponsors.The number to dial is ‘4444’, and contributors are encouraged to send messages as detailed as possible under the circumstances.’The most important thing is that you enter the place of the crime and the crime itself. There’s no need for callers to identify themselves, although contact details can be added if they’d like,’ Kosmos Radio’s Benny Van Der Merwe said at the launch of the project yesterday.Prank callers be warned though, City Police officers sifting through the information on a daily basis will note down all mocking or mischievous messages, and such callers will be blacklisted from the database.’We even find these things now, kids playing on the phones with our toll-free line, and we do manage to make arrests in some cases, but of course, that’s part of society,’ Kanime said.Callers are also requested to make sure their messages are clear and legible, the City Police said.Each SMS sent to this number will be charged at a special rate of N$1, which will go to MTC for providing the service.The ‘4444’ hot line number will be displayed on all Kosmos radio vehicles, while Kanime yesterday called on any ‘good Samaritans out there’ to assist in getting this done for the City Police’s vehicles.OfficEconomix also, during the launch yesterday, pledged to donate five new chairs to the City Police’s call centre.’Its called City Police, but it should actually be Community Police. We’re living in an era where we’re trying to get communities to take back policing, and such assistance is very much in line with this idea,’ Kanime said in thanking the company for its assistance.