Inspector General of Police (IGP) William Fayia Sellu has welcomed closer collaboration between the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) and the newly established Association of Private Security Companies in Sierra Leone (APSC-SL).
IGP Sellu made the commitment during a courtesy meeting with executives of APSC-SL, who formally introduced the association and sought the SLP’s guidance, support and collaboration.
Addressing the executives, IGP Sellu welcomed the initiative, noting that it had taken considerable time for private security companies to come together under a single umbrella.
He said he had been concerned about the status and operations of private security companies and disclosed that discussions on the sector had been taking place at the national level.
The IGP acknowledged the challenges involved in managing private security companies, particularly because their sustainability largely depends on the number of clients they are able to secure.
He commended the companies for coming together under APSC-SL, saying a unified association would provide them with greater strength and an organised platform to address common challenges.
IGP Sellu assured the executives that the SLP was ready to collaborate with the association whenever necessary.
He cited the Police’s recent training engagements with other security-related institutions, including the Metropolitan Police, the Sierra Leone Ports and Harbours Authority and the Immigration Department, as examples of the SLP’s willingness to share expertise and build the capacity of partner institutions.
The IGP also offered training support to APSC-SL, particularly for personnel with little or no experience of regimental life.
“If you want training to capacitate them, we can deliver it to help you,” IGP Sellu told the executives.
He noted that the registration of the companies with the Government means they are legal entities and should therefore operate within the established regulatory framework.
IGP Sellu stressed that the Police could not be everywhere at the same time, making cooperation with legitimate private security companies important in strengthening the protection of lives and property.
However, he drew attention to some challenges facing private security companies, including their lack of authority to carry firearms.
He observed that many clients increasingly demand armed security services and encouraged APSC-SL members to explore other areas within their legal mandate where they could effectively provide security services without contravening the law.
The IGP reaffirmed the SLP’s commitment to working with APSC-SL, stressing that a properly regulated private security sector could complement police efforts and contribute to national security.
Earlier, the APSC-SL executives told the IGP that they were ready to abide by the guidance and directives of the Sierra Leone Police and expressed appreciation for the opportunity to establish a working relationship with the country’s lead law enforcement institution.
According to the association, all licensed private security companies in Sierra Leone have now come together under one umbrella body, APSC-SL, following the completion of its internal organizational arrangements.
The association disclosed that it is preparing for its official launch ceremony, scheduled for 28 November 2026.
The executives said the purpose of the association was not to compete with the Police but to become a disciplined, regulated and credible partner in national security.
They acknowledged the SLP as a key institution in national security, noting that private security companies cannot operate effectively in isolation.
They further stated that, with proper regulation, supervision and guidance, the private security industry could complement the efforts of the Police in protecting lives and property.
The association said its objective is to help sanitize the private security industry, enforce professional standards and ensure that only qualified and law-abiding companies operate within the sector.
The APSC-SL executive includes Ibrahim Fofanah, Chairman; Alpha ML Alghali, Organizing Secretary; Ibrahim H. Kamara, Secretary-General; and Joseph N. Kabba, Auditor.
The proposed partnership is expected to strengthen cooperation between the SLP and private security companies while promoting professionalism, regulation, training and improved protection of lives and property across Sierra Leone.