Sierra Leone Police Urges Officers to Build Public Trust Through Community Policing
Aminata Koroma The Sierra Leone Police (SLP), through its Community Relations Department (CRD), has urged Grafton Police Station personnel to strengthen public trust by adopting a people-centred approach to policing.
The Head of CRD, Superintendent Samuel S. Conteh, made the call during an engagement with officers at the station, where he emphasised the need to move away from a force-oriented approach towards policing based on service, partnership and mutual respect.
Supt. Conteh stressed that professionalism, discipline, accountability and respect for human rights must remain central to police conduct. He encouraged officers to listen to community concerns, treat citizens fairly and collaborate with residents to prevent crime, address local challenges and maintain peace and security.
He also highlighted the Five P’s of Policing as a guide to professional conduct and effective service delivery, noting that public confidence and cooperation are essential to crime prevention and the creation of safer communities.
The engagement forms part of the CRD’s ongoing efforts to strengthen community-oriented policing and foster stronger relationships between the police and the public.
Supt. Conteh further urged officers to embrace the Force to Service concept, explaining that effective policing extends beyond law enforcement to protecting lives and property while working closely with communities to build a safer Sierra Leone.