Our History

Our History

Botswana Police Service was formed in 1895 and was headed by the followining commandents consecutively:

BPS then evolved as follows:

1936

Before Independence (Colonial Era)
The Principal Medical Officer (1936) wrote a letter to the government secretary informing him that the Principal Medical Officer and the Deputy Commandant from Mafikeng went to meet with the Government Engineers, District Commissioner and the Police Officer in Gaberones for the selection of a suitable site to build the College.

This was during the colonial era when the capital town of the Bechuanaland Protectorate, the now Botswana was in Mafikeng, South Africa.

In 1936 the Construction of the Botswana Police Training started in Gaberones, the present Gaborone. The Police Training College was by then named Police Depot until in 1972 when it was renamed Botswana Police College. (Botswana Police, 1979).

In 1936 The Principal Medical Officer wrote a letter to the government secretary informing him that the Principal Medical Officer and the Deputy Commandant from Mafikeng went to meet with the Government Engineers, District Commissioner and the Police Officer in Gaberones for the selection of a suitable site to build the College. This was during the colonial era when the capital town of the Bechuanaland Protectorate, the now Botswana was in Mafikeng, South Africa.

In 1936 the Construction of the Botswana Police Training started in Gaberones, the present Gaborone. It was by then called Police Depot until in 1972 when it was renamed Police College. (Botswana Police, 1979).

1936

1949

Post-Colonial Era

Acting Commissioner wrote a letter in 1949 and recommended that trainees build a proper lecture room for use, since the school lacked lecture rooms. Lectures were held partly in one of the barracks and partly in the open where there were a lot of destructions. The second barrack was used as a storeroom and an office for native instructors while trainees were fed in the open. G.E. Nettelton, the Government Secretary wrote to indicate that geologist offices had moved to Lobatsi and the Police Training took their building and their workshop to serve as offices for drill superintendent and the building formerly used as geological office was then used as a lecture room. This was at the present Camp School, Botswana Police (1997).

From 1936 – 1949 training was offered to Police recruits. A syllabus was followed with hours set aside for various subjects. Setswana was part of the syllabus and was taught to trainees from the Cape et Cetera who had no knowledge of the native language. The government was responsible for sponsoring the training. (Russell, 1937).

Acting Commissioner in 1949, wrote a letter and recommended that trainees build a proper lecture room for use, since the school lacked lecture rooms. Lectures were held partly in one of the barracks and partly in the open where there were a lot of destructions. The second barrack was used as a storeroom and an office for native instructors while trainees were fed in the open. In 1949 G.E. Nettelton, government secretary wrote to indicate that geologist offices had moved to Lobatse and the Police Training took their building and their workshop to serve as offices for drill superintendent and the building formerly used as geological office was then used as a lecture room. This was at the present Camp School, Botswana Police (1997).

During the period 1936 – 1949 training was offered to Police recruits. A syllabus was followed with hours set aside for various subjects. Setswana was part of the syllabus and was taught to trainees from the Cape et Cetera who had no knowledge of the native language. The government was responsible for sponsoring the training. (Russell, 1937).

2000

Relocation to the current Botswana Police College, Otse

The training relocated to Botswana Police College in Otse in 2000 and started its operations in 2001. Training was conducted under a conducive environment. The syllabus was also developed as informed by the training needs assessment outcomes.

From the time the College moved from South Africa, Mafikeng to Botswana, It was led by the following officers at a post of Commandant and Director of Training respectively;

2000

Conclusion

In line with our Vision and Mission, Botswana Police Service is set to provide a professional service to its customers and give value for money.