The majority of Walvis Bay residents (58%) have voted in favour of a municipal police force with 50% willing to pay for such a service. The average monthly amounts residents are prepared to pay range between N$50 and N$60 for private residents and between N$120 and N$160 for business owners.
The results are based on a survey conducted in December 2006 and January 2007 to determine the feasibility of establishing a city police. Before  the survey was conducted, Council had also engaged in consultations with  various interest groups representing the wider public on the issue of a city  police force for Walvis Bay. There have been strong indications in recent years that crime was  increasing rapidly, especially violent crime, which prompted Council to  re-investigate the implementation of a city police unit.
As the running of such a force will have a major impact on the local authority’s resources, Council had directed that the community be involved in as many facets of the feasibility study as possible.
Consequently, Council will only reach a final decision on the implementation of a city police force once all the groundwork has been completed. The series of public meetings and the survey are but one aspect of this  process, which will also include a detailed financial plan for the type of force envisaged. To this end, the Department of Community and Economic  Development will submit a comprehensive report to Council for a final decision to accept, or reject, the implementation of such a force.