January 17, 2022
The Sierra Leone Police, immediately after the eleven years civil war, engaged on massive transformation that led to change management. One of the benefits of such change is “COMMUNITY POLICING”. This principle, seeks to bring the police closer to the people; and the people closer to the police.
Owing to the above, various divisions of Sierra Leone Police demonstrated and practicalized it. Panlap Division is no exception. On the 14th January 2022 at about 1430 hrs the support officer, CSP Sia Bernadette Sandy, under the directives of the Local Unit Commander, CSP Musa Allieu, led a team of police contingent to Madina Loko Gbendenbu Chiefdom,Bombali district. The theme of the engagement was to rationalize the importance of the proposed establishment of a police post, due to the expansive economic activities and population growth at Madina Loko.
The engagement attracted traditional authorities and community stakeholders. The paramount chief of Gbendenbu Chiefdom,P. C. Kandeh Babah Kieh iii, highlights on the need for a police post at Madina Loko section. In a jam packed Barray, the paramount chief, told the attendee, that establishing a police post is not a security threat, rather, to bring security closer to the section and nearby environs, to protect the peoples’ lives and properties. Further to that, to ensure the safety of all, being that the section has very porous entry points that can attract criminals, as such, the police can serve as a remedy to such illegal activities. The paramount chief called on the stakeholders, youths, teachers, nurses and chiefs, to embrace the police, hence to provide accommodation’s and police post facility.
The Operations officer, SUPT. Siaka P. Sesay, gave a brief message on the rationale and importance of community policing and the need of having a police post at Madina Loko, as it will help in complaints and redress mechanisms, rather than traveling miles to Kalangba or Gbendenbu to report a case, taking into consideration the transportation cost to access the police.
The Support officer, CSP Sia B. Sandy, on behalf of the Inspector General of police, DR. Ambrose Michael Sovula, Regional police Commander North East region, AIG G. M. T. Tommy on to her LUC, expressed delight, for a massive turn out of the community people. Support officer sighted instances on the need of a police post at Madina Loko, that:
A. For the protection of lives and properties.
B. Respect for others rights.
C. Maintain law and order
She further said that the township has immensely expanded in many socioeconomics activities, as such; the need for security is of paramount importance.
The engagement was very constructive, educative, informative, and relaxed, attracted Village chiefs, section chiefs, regent chief, youth’s representative, Mammy Queen and deputy and other relevant works of life. Questions and comments, climaxed the engagement.