The Inspector General of Police (IGP) – Mr. William Fayia Sellu has on behalf of the Sierra Leone Police (SLP), reaffirmed commitment to working collaboratively with the Independent Police Complaints Board (IPCB) administration. This came against the backdrop of a working visit the team made to his George Street Office in Freetown, on Thursday 8th December, 2022. According to the IGP, this reaffirmation is predicated on the need to enhance maximum professional output from members of the SLP.
The IGP noted that he is one such person who personally supported the establishment of the IPCB, considering that it as a vital instrument that could support and respect the human rights of citizens of this nation; adding, that it also helps to regulate the performance of Police Officers in the execution of their constitutional mandate, in line with international human rights best practices.
Mr. Sellu alluded to the need to maximize the confidence of the people on the Police and therefore pledged to work hand in glove with the IPCB to achieve that goal. Exemplifying his commitment, he appointed the Director of Professional Standards, Mr. Kapr Saidu Kamara (AIG), as the liaison officer, to work directly with the IPCB in regulating the conduct of Police Officers.
Speaking on behalf of the IPCB team, Mr. Augustine Foday N’gobie, who is a rep from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), and doubles as the Deputy Commissioner ACC, said that their motive behind holding a meeting with the IGP was to foster a cordial working relationship between the Police and the IPCB, given the fact that the IPCB was a creation of the Police Council, and by statutory authority, it was given the mandate to carry out specific responsibilities enshrined in the Police Council Regulation 2013.
He maintained that the primary aim of the 2013 regulations is to empower an institution that will work closely with the Police so as to improve on its public perception as a FORCE FOR GOOD, and not to be seen as a repressive arm of government against the people.
Deputy Commissioner N’gobie revealed that the IPCB and the Police signed an MoU in August 2013 and thereby requested for the prescriptions of that MoU to be honoured, in order to improve on their working relationship and to buttress the understanding that the IPCB is not witch-hunting the Police. He affirmed that in all public engagements of the IPCB, the maxim; “HELP THE POLICE TO HELP YOU” is always underscored.
SLP MEDIA TEAM
