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The Executive Secretary of the Independent Police Complaints Board (IPCB), Rashid Kabba, has clarified that recording police officers while they are performing their official duties is not a criminal offence in Sierra Leone.
Kabba made the clarification during the Government Weekly Press Conference held on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, while addressing concerns surrounding the conduct of police officers and the rights of members of the public when interacting with the police.
According to the IPCB Executive Secretary, members of the public are permitted to record police officers on duty, although he noted that the manner in which such recording is carried out could sometimes make an officer feel offended.
He, however, stressed that police officers should not take offence simply because they are being recorded while carrying out their official responsibilities.
Kabba’s clarification comes amid growing public interest in the circumstances under which members of the public can document police operations, particularly during encounters between police officers and motorists.
On the issue of drivers’ licences, Kabba explained that Sierra Leonean law provides a 72-hour period for a driver to produce a licence when requested by the police.
He said challenges with the availability and updating of data systems can sometimes make it difficult for police officers to immediately verify a driver’s information.
“In countries where data systems are fully operational, the police can access the driver’s details and verify the licence electronically,” Kabba explained, noting that officers in such jurisdictions can record the necessary information and return the licence.
He said the situation can be different in Sierra Leone because the relevant systems are not always readily available or up to date, which may result in police officers retaining drivers’ licences.
Kabba further stated that an officer who requests a driver’s licence is expected to obtain the relevant details and return the document, although he acknowledged that there are circumstances in which an officer may retain it.
The IPCB Executive Secretary also assured the public that complaints against police officers would continue to be handled through the appropriate mechanisms.
He said police management had also addressed the issue and that complaints lodged against officers would be subject to the established investigative and accountability processes.
Kabba’s remarks reinforce the IPCB’s role in promoting accountability within the Sierra Leone Police while clarifying the rights and responsibilities of members of the public during interactions with law enforcement officers.
