Your Data Rights
The Botswana Police Service ("BPS") is committed to protecting your personal data. Under applicable data protection laws, you have the following rights regarding the personal information we hold about you.
1. Right of Access
You have the right to request a copy of the personal data we hold about you. We will provide this information in a commonly used, machine-readable format where technically feasible.
2. Right to Rectification
If any personal information we hold about you is inaccurate or incomplete, you have the right to request that we correct or complete it. You can update some details directly through your portal profile settings.
3. Right to Erasure
You may request the deletion of your personal data where it is no longer necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, or where you withdraw consent. Please note that certain data may be retained where required by law or for legitimate public interest purposes, such as law enforcement records.
4. Right to Restriction of Processing
You have the right to request that we restrict the processing of your personal data in certain circumstances, such as when you contest the accuracy of the data or when you object to processing.
5. Right to Data Portability
Where technically feasible, you may request that your personal data be transferred to another organisation in a structured, commonly used, machine-readable format.
6. Right to Object
You have the right to object to the processing of your personal data where it is based on public interest or legitimate interests. BPS will cease processing unless there are compelling legitimate grounds.
7. Right to Withdraw Consent
Where processing is based on your consent, you may withdraw that consent at any time. Withdrawal of consent does not affect the lawfulness of processing carried out before the withdrawal. You can manage cookie consent through the "Cookie Settings" link in the portal footer.
8. How to Exercise Your Rights
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us by:
- Email: dpo@police.gov.bw — please include your full name and Omang/passport number so we can locate your records.
- Post: Data Protection Officer, Botswana Police Service, Police Headquarters, Gaborone, Botswana
- In person: Visit any police station and request to speak with the Data Protection Officer.
9. Response Timeframe
We will acknowledge your request within 5 working days and provide a substantive response within 30 days. If your request is complex or we receive a large number of requests, we may extend this by a further 30 days — in which case we will notify you of the extension and the reasons for it.
10. Verification
To protect your privacy, we may need to verify your identity before fulfilling a data rights request. You may be asked to provide a valid Omang (national ID) or passport number that matches our records.
11. Limitations
Certain rights may be limited where required by law — for example, where the data is necessary for ongoing law enforcement investigations, legal proceedings, or compliance with statutory obligations. We will inform you of any limitations when responding to your request.
12. Complaints
If you believe your data rights have not been respected, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the relevant supervisory authority. You may also contact BPS directly so we can attempt to resolve your concern.
This page was last updated on 23 February 2026.