Profile of the Police Service

KNOW ABOUT THE LESOTHO POLICE

The Lesotho Mounted Police Service was established on the 26^th October 1872 and it was known as Basutoland Mounted with the strength of 110 men who were mainly the sons of local chiefs. The magistrates also served as police officers.

The police duties were mainly to support and protect magistrates and to act as interpreters and messengers. By 1878 the police adapted military ranks but changed in 1958 to police ranks. The police strength expanded to 1074 men as more responsibilities were added. They resorted and kept peace in other countries. The Commissioner of Police was also responsible for prisons but in 1946, prisons became independent and took charge of prisons. To keep up with modern challenges in the fight against crime and police development, the police diversified and expanded hence the birth of more police departments: Police Training College in 1946, special branch and signals in 1953, Police Mobile Unit in 1964, The Stock Theft and Criminal Investigation Department in 1966 and 1967 respectively. In 1966 the Lesotho Police became the Lesotho Mounted Police.

In 1970, the first batch of women was recruited into the police. In 1986 the police became Royal Lesotho Mounted Force.

LESOTHO POLICE POST 1993 GENERAL ELECTIONS

The new democratic dispensation in Lesotho brought enormous challenges to the Lesotho police. Policing became a completely different phenomenon and expectations from a democratic society also became huge. In a democracy, electorates themselves control all state agencies including the police. Consequently, the Lesotho police had to opt for a more participatory approach when dealing with all policing matters hence emphasis and development on Community Policing, which is referred to as a partnership between communities and the police to solve safety problems.

VALUES

We will recognize and appreciate the services delivered by LMPS staff in the execution of police duties and the trust the community has placed on us as the professional police service whilst guided by the following values:

1. Trust: we promote atmosphere of trust within and outside the LMPS.

2. Accountability: we are accountable to the community we serve, led by the value for money principles and shall be responsible for all our actions.

3. Ethical conduct: we shall be governed by the principles of human rights and ethical behaviour in the performance of duties

4. Impartiality and Fairness: we shall adhere to the policies and avoid all elements of biasness.

5. Minimum force: we use enough force only to subdue a threat.

6. Honesty and integrity: we shall not engage in the act of corruption, nor shall we conduct ourselves in a dubious manner, but we will treat our customers with compassion. Loyalty and remain above reproach in all our actions.

7. Our Professional reputation: strive to maintain a professional service, endeavor to train, develop and deploy our human resources properly and to serve every person impartially.

8. Openness and transparency: we give feedback to the community we serve in all policing activities, be approachable and accept constructive criticism to maintain good practices.

9. An organizational climate of mutual trust and respect: create a climate of mutual trust and respect by working in partnership with the community.

10. Constitutional and human rights: we will protect the lives of people and property.

11. Community: we shall strive to policing in consultation with the community.

MISSION

We are committed to provide safety and security to all. In partnership with the community and other stakeholders, we prevent crime, reduce crime, disorder, fear of crime and enhance the rule of law, whilst respecting and protecting the human rights of all as fundamental to a professional police service.

CHERISHED VALUES

Values govern the operations of the organization and its conduct or relationship with society at large, customers, suppliers, employees, local community and other stakeholders. The following are the LMPS cherished values, which must guide and serve as principles to achieve the vision, the mission and the slogan.