Sierra Leone

"The Place of Community Policing in Peace Consolidation by UNIOSIL ERSG, Victor Angelo"

The Inspector General of Police, Mr. Brima Acha Kamara
Ladies and gentleman

Thank you for inviting me to this important workshop on “Mobilizing the Community for Effective Policing in Sierra Leone”. I find the topic on the Place of Community Policing in Peace Consolidation particularly critical for the Police at this stage that Sierra Leone has reached in cementing the foundations of peace.

To address the various security threats and consolidate peace in the country, the Republic of Sierra Leone Police has a vital role to play. In this regard, it is imperative to bear in mind that in the performance of Police duties, the respect for human dignity and the protection of human rights is of utmost importance. For a Police force to recognize this central principle and achieve its constitutional mandate, it has to be professional, well trained and impartial. It is in this respect that UNIOSIL’s work is focused on building the capacity of the Sierra Leone Police. I am therefore proud of the achievements that UNIOSIL and its partners have made in this regard in the past fifteen months. These achievements would not have been possible without our close partnership with DFID, which has become more substantive and better coordinated. The role of Government in ensuring a professional Police Force cannot be overemphasized. I take the opportunity to appreciate the Government’s policy of maintaining the independence of the SLP.