Internal Affairs Minister Lengor urges stronger policing partnerships for safer communities.

Internal Affairs Minister Retired AIG Morie Lengor called for stronger partnerships among Sierra Leone Police, government institutions, communities, and international partners to strengthen policing and community safety.

Minister spoke during the UN Police Cooperation commemoration ceremony at the Bank Complex, Freetown, themed "Strengthening Partnerships for Effective Policing and Safer Communities."

Lengor described the commemoration as marking an important milestone in Sierra Leone's transition to a conflict-free constitutional order, reflecting national commitment to professional, accountable, cooperative policing. He noted the UN theme "Protecting against vulnerability, building trust and legitimacy in policing" complements the national focus on strengthening partnerships, improving policing, and enhancing community safety.

Minister highlighted police reforms and developments, including the ongoing police force to police service transition, community policing advances, Police Act review. He cited improved security-sector coordination, expanded human rights investigations, cybercrime, transnational organised crime training, increased police welfare attention, and women's police participation.

While acknowledging gains, Lengor noted significant challenges remain, including inadequate infrastructure and equipment, difficult working conditions, and detention facility shortcomings. He identified emerging threats: cybercrime, trafficking, illicit drugs, gender-based violence, economic exploitation. Accountability mechanisms, including the Independent Police Complaints Board, are critical in strengthening public confidence.

Lengor appealed to the United Nations, INTERPOL, ECOWAS, the African Union, development partners, and stakeholders supporting Sierra Leone's sustainable training, forensic digital capabilities, improved communications mobility, and better police facilities. He called on government institutions, civil society, traditional religious leaders, media, private sector to recognise that public safety is a shared responsibility requiring collective action.

Addressing police officers, the Minister urged discipline, professionalism, honesty, respect, accountability, and duty discharge. He emphasised effective policing measured by vulnerable citizens feeling safer and receiving equal treatment, reaffirming Government commitment to police reform, professionalism, human rights, and accountability. He described commemoration as a "public covenant" building a police service worthy of Sierra Leone's hard-won peace.

Correspondent-Mabinty Koroma

Email: koromamabinty962@gmailcom

Tel:+23278078417

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