On April 23rd, 2023, the Community Relations Department (CRD) of the Sierra Leone Police extended a positive relationship to the people of Gbanja Town community in Bo District.

This initiative is part of the department’s plan to establish working relationships with communities before the general elections to prevent unforeseen issues. The department has been working relentlessly in collaboration with other partners to fight against crime.

The CRD department was created by the Sierra Leone Police to establish direct links and build good relationships with community members, with the aim of aiding the police in reducing crime using their five powers of arrest.

Inspector Francess Blake, the head of CRD South and the team visitation lead, expressed gratitude to the Gbanja town community stakeholders during the planned inspection meeting.

She also extended warm regards for suggesting that the police create a fully functional Community Safety Volunteers program for the first time.

During the visit, Coordinator Blake identified youth involvement in drug dealings and intake as contributing factors to violence.

She emphasized that police live matters, especially during the election period and busy periods for the police. With the help of civil inclusion, the burden on the police would be eased.

In another development, the long-standing youth leadership dispute in Simbo town community was satisfactorily resolved under the presence of the visiting team, which included the Police, PIRSUD, and the LPPB.

Subsequent security meetings will be held in the community going forward, as reported by the Information Officer, Bo West Division.