THE local leadership in Kanchibiya District has welcomed the deployment of police officers to man the newly constructed Chalabesa Police Station.

Kanchibiya District One-Stop Center Para-Legal Officer Christopher Sinzumwa says the deployment of officers is a crucial step in addressing crime and ensuring justice, especially in cases of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV).

Mr Sinzumwa notes that the police presence will help bring perpetrators of GBV to book, adding that this will also alleviate the challenges of referring cases to other districts.

“The coming of the police station will help bring the perpetrators to justice, whereas in previous instances some would run away or simply be hidden by the community,” he said.

He noted that the coming of the police has been a long-term cry for the District One Stop Center facility.

Mr Sinzumwa stated that GBV cases were previously challenging due to the need to refer them to law enforcement in other districts.

Meanwhile, Restoration for Community Justice (RCJ) NGO Chief Executive Officer Mulenga Mathews described the police presence in the district as timely, citing the high crime rate regarding SGBV.

He noted that some SGBV cases previously went unanswered due to the long distances from crime scenes to law enforcement offices in neighboring districts.

Mr Mulenga said that the coming of the police in the district will greatly help with SGBV cases and the prohibiting of early marriages.

He also urged for more police posts in the district in various townships to address its vast geographical area.

The opening of the police station and deployment of officers is a response to years of appeals by stakeholders who saw police presence as crucial to reducing crime, improving safety, and strengthening access to justice in Kanchibiya.