By: Aminata Sesay
The Environment Protection Agency (EPA-SL), in collaboration with the Sierra Leone Police Force, has trained police officers, investigators and prosecutors on environmental laws and procedures for investigating and prosecuting environmental offences.
The one-day training, held at the Atlantic Hotel in Freetown, focused on strengthening participants’ understanding of environmental laws, evidence collection and preservation, and the legal procedures required to secure successful prosecutions.
Speaking at the training, the Director of Legal Affairs, Compliance and Enforcement at the EPA, Tamba Sangbah Esq., described environmental law as a specialized field that requires technical expertise throughout the investigation and prosecution process.
He explained that the proper collection, testing and preservation of samples, coupled with thorough investigations, were essential to ensuring effective prosecution of environmental offences and the delivery of justice.
Mr. Sangbah said the EPA had conducted similar training sessions across the country, including engagements with judges. He described the police as a critical partner in the agency’s regulatory and enforcement activities.
He called for stronger cooperation between the EPA and law enforcement institutions to improve the investigation and prosecution of environmental offences. He also commended the judiciary and the police for their support in prioritizing environmental crimes within the justice system.
The Head of the Legal and Justice Department of the Sierra Leone Police Force, ACP Joan Bull Moss, also emphasized the importance of collaboration among the police, the EPA and other justice-sector institutions in investigating environmental offences.
She identified the Criminal Procedure Act of 2024 as an important legal framework for ensuring lawful investigations, proper documentation and the maintenance of a credible chain of evidence.
According to ACP Moss, successful prosecution begins long before a case reaches court. She stressed the need for accurate incident reports, systematic evidence gathering, proper sample collection and reliable witness statements.
She called for closer collaboration between investigators and environmental regulators from the early stages of investigations to ensure that environmental enforcement remains lawful, fair, professional and effective.
The training also examined provisions of the Environment Protection Agency Act of 2022, including the agency’s mandate and the implementation of its Environmental Protection Agency Transformation Strategy (EPATS).
The EPA said the engagement formed part of its commitment to strengthening partnerships, stakeholder engagement and financing as key enablers of its transformation agenda. The approach is also aligned with the agency’s coordinating responsibilities under Section 12(2) of the EPA Act of 2022.
The initiative is expected to improve coordination between environmental regulators and law enforcement institutions in addressing environmental violations and strengthening environmental protection in Sierra Leone.