Law enforcement officials carried out a patrol in Windhoek on Friday night. 

The almost 500-strong operation was led by Police Chief Lieutenant General Joseph Shikongo, the Windhoek City Police and officials from immigration and NamRA.

Before the men and women in boots were sent out to maintain law and order on the streets of the capital, the Inspector General inspected the parade.

Lieutenant General Shikongo has always advocated for education before arrest and the use of minimum force, and at Friday's parade, he again warned that all citizens must be treated with respect at all times.

Shikongo lambasted the officers for a claim that many have heard: that there are no vehicles available to attend to a complaint.

"Look at the cars that are here today. How many cars are parked here? They are parked even outside there, but then when we are called by the members of the public, we tell them we don't have a car. Yes, it's true we don't have enough, but the question is, are we saying we don't have cars in Windhoek? You are lying; you are not telling the truth."

Shikongo said such incidents can be avoided and encouraged officers to make use of all available resources and to build cooperation with their counterparts, the city police.

It was after the briefing that he deployed the troops, in the air and on the ground.

The usual expected hostility towards police officers was not visible as communities, seemingly tired of crime in their localities, welcomed their presence.

The incidents mostly comprised unlicensed shebeens and some people drinking on the street. An incident of driving above the legal limit of alcohol was also addressed. Several incidents of driving with expired licence discs were also observed.

The Inspector General and his team also engaged community members to hear firsthand what challenges they are experiencing.

He said the operation will extend to Rehoboth and Okahandja in the coming weeks.