By: Mohamed M. Sesay
In a bid to crack down on transnational organized crimes nationally, regionally and globally, the Sierra Leone Police with support from the European Union, has completed four-day training for twenty-eight participants on West Africa Police Information System (WAPIS). Participants for the training were drawn from the Sierra Leone Police, Anti-Corruption Commissioner, and the Immigration Department.
The certification ceremony which was held on Friday 23 September in the basement of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), was graced by the presence of the Inspector General of Police – Mr William Fayia Sellu, representative of the European Union – Mr Harriet, the Chief Immigration Officer – Mr Andrew Jayah Kaikai, the INTERPOL/WAPIS Coordinator – Dr. Mohamed Yansanneh, among others. The four-day training focused on Data Quality and Data Protection.
Presenting the participants to the IGP, Dr. Yansaneh explained the topics covered during the training and encouraged the participants to make better use of the knowledge gained. He further urged them to transform their knowledge to the benefit of the organizations they represent.
The Chief Immigration Officer, on his part, applauded the European Union for the support and actualization of the project. He called for continued collaboration and good working relationships between and among institutions involved in combating transnational organized crimes and terrorism.
The European Union representative among other things said that international crime is a reality, dangerous, and around the corner. He called for all to put hands on deck in curbing the menace in society. He congratulated the participants and wished them well.
The Inspector General of Police – Mr. William Fayia Sellu, on his part, said that he was incredibly grateful to the EU for the support, noting that the training had a blend of local and international principles on the handling of criminal data. He encouraged participants to make better use of the knowledge gained during the training and to replicate the same in the workplace; stressing that there should be a visible difference in their output, having gone through the training.
The IGP revealed that personnel trained will be tracked and monitored throughout their not less than three years stay in the Department.
He reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring the sustainability of the program; as according to him, WAPIS will always be close to his heart.
Earlier, the Head of the Criminal Investigations Department – ACP R.P.G Roberts welcomed all and sundry to the closing ceremony. The distribution of certificates to participants climaxed the ceremony.
