HARARE – Police are hoping a website launched yesterday will help investigators solve some of the cold cases and build synergies with the public to fight crime.
The website — www.zrp.gov.zw — was officially launched by Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri at Morris Depot, who hoped the site would provide the police with ties with members of the public to bust criminal activities, adding confidentiality was fully guaranteed.
The police chief said the website shall provide an important forum for people to send their concerns and complaints on various policing issues.
“As you recall, the ZRP reaffirmed its commitment to serve the people of Zimbabwe through the launch of the people-oriented Client Service Charter in 2015,” Chihuri said.
“Indeed, this endeavour is aimed at continually aligning our police services to the needs and aspiration of the people.
“In fact, police agencies are finding that their communities expect them to have an online presence on platforms such as websites, Twitter, Facebook among others.”
The police supremo said the use of cyberspace in investigating crime had become the norm the world over.
The police had been relying on traditional community tools of policing such as suggestion boxes, hot lines, brochures and the neighbourhood watches, methods which Chihuri acknowledges “are increasing becoming redundant”.
“Criminals . . . are never waiting for us as police to be in touch with these developments, but are manipulating every available opportunity to utilise the virtual and extra-territorial opportunity of cyberspace to render us ineffective in discharging our mandate,” Chihuri said.
“This consequently places greater need for enhanced information sharing between us the police and the public.”
ZRP hopes the introduction of the website will see an increase in whistle blowers.
Click here to go to ZRP website http://www.zrp.gov.zw
