The CARTER CENTER, an organization which looks into issues of Access to Justice, Advancing Citizen Engagement, Women and Access to Information, Advance Security Sector Trust and Accountability, paid a Needs Assessment visit to the Inspector General of Police – Mr. William Fayia Sellu, at his George Street office, in Freetown, on 17th November, 2022.
Speaking to the IGP about their work in Liberia and elsewhere, the Team Leader Hilary Forden, who happens to be the Senior Associate Director in the Rule of Law Program, enquired about how the Sierra Leone Police was handling and adjudicating on complaints, retention of women in the Force, as well as mechanisms put in place to commend officers for their good work, in the Force.
In response, the IGP stated that the SLP has in place a system to recognize and commend Police Officers for good work, by way of advancement in ranks (promotions); adding, that those with questionable conducts are disciplinarily investigated through the Professional Standards Directorate.
On issues of women in the SLP, the IGP revealed that women do occupy about 20 percent strategic and tactical positions in the organization, ranging from Directors, Local Unit Commanders to Heads of Department.
The IGP noted that in spite of this acclaim, he is also making sure that women are not allowed to be complacent about their positions, by ensuring that he pushed them to acquire higher academic standards.
Mr. Fayia Sellu also spoke about the two gender policies in place, in the SLP i.e. Gender Mainstreaming and the Sexual Exploitation Abuse and Harassment, to deal with women-related issues; emphasizing, that the organization operates a zero tolerance policy for infractions of these policies.
In conclusion, the team took the IGP through a lengthy interview on key thematic issues in the SLP, in accomplishment of their needs assessment mission.
As a parting statement, the team thanked the Inspector General for the hospitality and leniency with which he accepted them to undertake their work.
