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Inspector General of Police (IGP) William Fayia Sellu met with senior officials from the United Nations Department of Peace Operations (UNDPO) at the SLP Headquarters in Kingtom to discuss strategic support for the Sierra Leone Police (SLP).
The meeting was led by Mr. Jerome Mellon, Head of Policy and Operational Support and Coordinator for West and Central Africa. He commended IGP Sellu for his leadership and efforts to strengthen collaboration with UN agencies in Sierra Leone.
Mellon explained that the UNDPO is currently identifying critical areas for intervention and support across West Africa, necessitating engagement with the SLP.
In his statement, IGP Sellu acknowledged the significant contributions of UN agencies, especially the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in assisting the SLP’s transition from a Force to a Service. He specifically credited UN Resident Coordinator Mr. Frederick Hans Ampiah for his pivotal role in this process.
IGP Sellu outlined immediate priorities for the SLP, stressing the need for Training and Logistical Support. “Training is essential at this stage to reinforce existing knowledge and to update our officers on modern policing techniques. If you don’t reinforce what you know, it becomes extinct,” he stated.
On logistical needs, he highlighted mobility, infrastructure development, technology, cyber security, and forensic equipment as key focus areas.
He noted that while the SLP has established two cybercrime units at Police Headquarters and the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), they require further expansion and resources. He further pointed out the need for new Divisions, Stations, and Posts across the country, many of which lack essential furniture and office equipment.
In closing, Mr. Mellon expressed appreciation for IGP Sellu’s insights and assured him that the UNDPO is prepared to coordinate international support. “Though our work is not programmatic, we are operational in nature. We possess the capacity to identify, facilitate, and connect the right partners to provide the needed support,” he said. He expressed a commitment to working closely with the SLP to enhance policing efforts in Sierra Leone.
