Police manpower insufficient, public urged to strengthen home safety measures

The general public in National Capital District [NCD] and Central are urged to maintain order and take proactive steps to enhance home safety while police focus on enforcing the law.

The NCD/Central Police Command in a statement explained that they are struggling with manpower, having fewer than 1,000 officers to serve a population of over one million. Of these, around 800 officers are currently active, but the numbers dwindle further due to various factors.

The Commander of National Capital District and Central Province acting Assistant Commissioner of Police Benjamin Turi explained that approximately 100 officers handle administrative duties during regular business hours, leaving evenings, weekends, and emergencies understaffed unless specifically called in.

"Another 100 officers or fewer are either on leave or unwell. This leaves fewer than 500 officers available. Specialist units such as prosecution, CID, and traffic teams reduce the number further," Turi said.

He further explained that Prosecutors spend much of their time in courtrooms, while CID officers handle specific, time-consuming cases.

"Traffic officers manage escorts and other specialized tasks. This leaves fewer than 400 officers in the Public Safety Unit.

"The remaining officers operate on shift rotations. Sector patrol units run two shifts, while support units like the dog squad and mobile squad follow their own rosters.

"Factoring in rest days and shift rotations, the number of active officers drops to around 200. These officers divide their time between street patrols, monitoring communication centers, attending crime scenes, and staffing police stations," he added.

Meanwhile, on weekdays, police stations may seem busier due to administrative staff, Family and Sexual Violence Unit [FSVU] officers, and CID personnel however, weekends reveal the strain, with fewer officers available. In many cases, fewer than five officers are on duty at any given police station per shift.

Despite the challenges, police acknowledge and value the support of initiatives such as city wardens, neighborhood watch groups, and private security firms.

The Police Command reiterates the importance of community cooperation to bridge the gap caused by their limited manpower.