NAMPOL is responsible for internal security, law and order, offence investigation, protection of life and property, and crime prevention. Its service values include accessibility, fairness, integrity, non-discrimination and transparency. Report an emergency or suspicious activity immediately through 10111, which is toll-free nationwide, or contact the nearest police station. The number 061 10111 is also listed for Windhoek. Windhoek City Police can be reached at 061 302302 or by SMS at 4444 within Windhoek only. A useful report records the vehicle registration, suspect description, time and location. Do not confront suspects or attempt private punishment. The 2023/24 serious-crime figures totalled 30,125 cases. The largest listed categories were housebreaking and theft with 11,578 cases, domestic violence with 4,817, robbery with aggravating circumstances with 3,732, stock theft with 3,554, illicit drugs with 1,892, commercial-related crimes with 1,434, rape with 1,358, attempted murder with 571, theft of motor vehicles with 379, murder with 324, pointing of a firearm with 256, arson with 253 and trafficking in persons with 7. Some categories can overlap; domestic violence figures may include cases also recorded as rape, murder or grievous bodily harm. Regional totals show recorded volume rather than individual risk: Khomas had 35,918 cases and Kavango West 1,610, but these figures do not measure population-adjusted prevalence. The annual reporting gives 265,323 cases on hand in one place and 264,323 in another, so that total contains an internal discrepancy. The reported 2023/24 figures also show 153,772 cases in the previous year, 110,551 new reports and 99,507 cleared cases, with a stated clearance rate of 38%. For prevention, practical measures include working locks, adequate lighting, alarms where suitable, attention to surroundings and prompt community reporting. NAMPOL community-policing activities include Neighbourhood Watch, the Women and Men Network Against Crime (WMNAC), Youth Against Crime (YAC), Crime Stop and local police-station or community groups. Public cooperation helps the police identify patterns and investigate offences, but residents should not intervene directly. The national strategy for 2025/26 to 2029/30 identifies crime prevalence, investigative and forensic capacity, and transnational organised crime as continuing priorities. After sexual violence, report as soon as possible because forensic evidence can be time-sensitive. If possible, avoid washing or changing clothes before medical and police procedures. For GBV, the toll-free 106 line operates from 8:00 to 22:00 and can connect the caller with a GBV Protection Unit (GBVPU), a regional social worker, shelter, counselling or referral. Regional responsibility varies. Shelters provide short-term accommodation and basic services, but published stay durations and police response times are not uniform. A protection order can be obtained through a Magistrate's Court without a lawyer and without a fee. It can restrict contact or require a person to leave a shared home, and it can be used separately from or alongside a criminal complaint. A child affected by violence, abuse or exploitation can use the toll-free 116 child helpline and contact a social worker or the Child Care and Protection Directorate. The child-protection pathway applies to anyone under 18 regardless of nationality, origin or immigration status. A child accused of an offence may go through screening, assessment, diversion and, where needed, a pre-sentence report involving social workers or probation services. The Ministry of Justice Legal Aid service can assist people without the means to obtain private legal representation, including people in police custody or detention. The ministry responsible for gender equality and child welfare supports responses to violence against children (VAC) and trafficking in persons (TIP), although the responsible regional service and available accommodation can differ. Digital crime reporting remains fragmented. A person can seek technical assistance through NAM-CSIRT or CRAN and also make a criminal report to NAMPOL; the current public procedure for coordinating both channels is not clearly published. The Electronic Transactions Act 2019 has provisions that took effect from 2020, section 20 and Chapter 5 took effect on 15 June 2026, and Chapter 4 sections 34 to 40 were still not in force at the research date. The Cybercrime Bill 2026 was still a consultation draft and should not be treated as current criminal law. These developments affect digital incidents, but they do not replace a police report when conduct may constitute an offence.
Crime in Namibia
Crime in Namibia covers offences, prevention, reporting, police contact, victim support and safer everyday decisions. Police data for 2023/24 recorded 110,551 reported cases and 99,507 cleared cases, with a reported 38% clearance rate; the same annual reporting contains a conflicting on-hand total. Housebreaking and theft, domestic violence, aggravated robbery, stock theft, drug offences and sexual violence were among the prominent recorded serious-crime categories. Emergencies and suspicious activity can be reported to the Namibian Police Force (NAMPOL) on toll-free 10111 nationwide, while gender-based violence (GBV) and child-protection support use 106 and 116 respectively.
Tip
Use a clear first-contact plan for crime in Namibia: call 10111 for immediate danger or suspicious activity, 106 for gender-based violence support, and 116 for child protection. For other incidents, contact the nearest police station and record the essential facts before reporting. Do not treat raw regional totals as personal risk rankings, confront suspects, or rely on a draft cybercrime law as current law.