September 2, 2021
By: Francis F.M. Harding
The Western Region comprises of Lumley Police, Goderich Police, Congo Cross Police, Mountain Police, Aberdeen Police and Central Police Divisions. This meeting is rotational amongst the divisions on a monthly base. The August session is hosted by the Local Policing Partnership Board Aberdeen Police Division at the Family Kingdom Resort on the 29th August, 2021.
In his opening the chairperson for the Local Policing Partnership Board Aberdeen Police Division Mr. William Sao-Lamin welcomes participants and said we are here to interact, share knowledge with each other from various divisions within the western region. Sao-Lamin said this is a very difficult time during COVID-19 as they don’t want to disobey the government that is why the hall is not Jam Parked. He said the presence of the Inspector General of Police has rescued the Local Unit Commanders (LUCs) who were absent for the meeting. The chairperson said very soon he will introduce volley ball and football among the western region.
The chairperson stressed on social interaction as it bring bond to each other.
Sao-Lamin said security at Aberdeen was prone to crime especially at the beach area and that Aberdeen is active at night for social activities. Chairperson said people have lost their lives, rape women but with the support of the Local Policing Partnership Board Aberdeen they have minimized crime in collaboration with Police officers and the Community Safety Volunteers (CSV).
Chairperson said the Local Policing Partnership Aberdeen gave to the Aberdeen Police Division a Toyota vehicle.
He informed the gathering that the Local Policing Partnership, engineering team, Police Headquarter and the Local Unit Commanders of the Aberdeen Police Division have tried to put a brand new building.
He said this building will have a canteen, the Local Policing Partnership office and the Police offices including holding cells for prisoner. Chairman Lamin ended by saying that they will have training for the members in terms of financial management and security.
The Inspector General of Police Ambrose Michael Sovula said that the LPPB is a focal point for policing in the community.
He added that is what they as police are surpose to do to instill public confidence and engage them.
IGP continued that it is not how much people they sent to jail is considered good policing but how peaceful and secure is their community is the step in the right direction.
He continued to say that the Local Policing Partnership Board and the Police are one and the only difference is that the Sierra Leone Police is receiving salary from the consolidated fund whiles the Local Policing Partnership Board is not receiving salary. He commended the efforts of the Local Policing Partnership Board.
The chairperson from the Mountain Division Mr. Momoh A. Bangura said they hosted the last family meeting and as the word goes mountain they are up and they will always be there. He said he is at Aberdeen to support them as the youngest division. Mr. Bangura said about three to four months ago they converged at Lumley and they made recommendations about the Community Relations Department as most police personnel don’t want to work in that department within various police division. He said they have written recommendations to the IG for promotion for personnel at the Community relations Departments for promotion and he made to understand that promotion is around the corner.
The Head of Community Relations for the Sierra Leone Police Superintendent Edna Slyva said she is more than a woman as she has work at the Congo Cross, Goderich and Eastern Police Divisions. Madam Slyva said the Director of Community Affairs AIG Sahr Senesie is unavoidable absent as he has another schedule to attend.
Superintendent Slyva said she has a plan to organize meeting for both east and west to meet with the director within the next three weeks to interface with the director.
The Head of Community Relations said she appreciates the Local Policing Partnership Board members as they are not paying them but ready to spear their time and money for having the police and their communities at heart for national development. She said the Community Relations Department is working closely with the community meaning they have ties with the Local Policing Partnership Board. She promise that any other time when there is any regional meeting like this she will tell the director to tell all Local Unit Commanders to attend.
Madam Slyva said their role as Community Officers is to serve as liaison between the community and the police. Petty issues like abusive language should be handled by the Community Relations Officers but when such a case went to the police station some of the Criminal Investigation Department personnel will not give chance for the Community Relations Officers to handle such matters.
She said the validation of the constitution of the Local Policing Partnership Board due to the COVID-19 the donors have stop funding it but no sooner when that process is completed they will have the constitution.