Police in Malawi will rile at allegation made by some pub owners in Lilongwe, Malawi's capital city, that some police officers rape sex workers while on duty.

The bar owners met Police officers and city council officials in an effort to address increasing cases of crime that have included murders, burglaries and mob justice episodes. The bar owners also accused the law enforcers of involvement in some of these crimes specifically rape of rogue and vagabond suspects and demanding for bribes.

Some speakers said even tipping police officers of suspected criminals has become a dangerous thing as the officers are betraying whistle-blowers.

"One day I was walking home at night, police officers pounced on me and demanded K10,000 to let me go. The other day, I tipped them about a suspicious looking bag, they demanded that I give them a little something but when we got to where the bag was, we discovered there were two sets of police uniform and handcuffs in the bag. I refused to pay them anything," said one Ivy Ngoleka a bar owner.

Another bar owner John Mpondasi told the meeting that instead of working, some police officers force sex on sex workers before releasing them.

The bar owners also accused LCC officials of corruption and applying double standards in issuing licences to locals and foreigners for liquor selling outlets in the city observing that some foreigners have licences to operate way beyond stipulated time.

However, while acknowledging that the dormancy of the LCC Liquor Licensing Board may have led to disparities in hours of operations for some bars in the city, the officials said the standard is that licences are issued based on production of authenticated business registration certificates for all foreigners.

"Primarily we are here to formulate strategies on how to work together as Police, Lilongwe City Assembly and bar owners because the suspects are taking the bars, rest houses, liquor shops and others as hide outs such that after those places they leave for their wicked missions," said Tamara Chafunya spokesperson for the Lilongwe City Council in an interview later echoing Maundala's sentiments.

The officials say city drinking joints have become part of crime as the majority of them operate beyond their scheduled time thus operating against Lilongwe City Assembly by-laws.

For LCC, liquor outlets are supposed to be closed by 10 pm. The city council and the police said most bar owners disregard city by-laws and instead trespass into prohibited hours for continued sales.

Chairperson of the Bar Owners Association Smash Jambo said the bar operators were ready to comply with all existing by-laws now that most of their concerns have been heard and addressed.

"We are ready to comply with the bylaws and work with the police for the safety of our customers since they have told us that we will now work as partners," Jambo said observing that in the past, cooperation was not smooth as police did not respond in time when called upon to react to a security situation.

He also said police officers used to ask for bribes before responding to a situation a development that in some cases encouraged bar owners and their workers to keep information away from police officers.

But for the Lilongwe City Council, the meeting was an eye opener as they now see a need for civic education on the requirements of the law with regard to operation of liquor outlets in Lilongwe city.

"It has given us a picture of how the bar owners understand their licenses. Most of them do not even know what is stipulated in their licenses. Through the meeting it has also been revealed that some people operate without licenses," Chafunya said.