The Sierra Leone Police (SLP) has reiterated its commitment to cooperating with the Independent Police Complaints Board (IPCB) administration through the actions of Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mr. William Fayia Sellu.

This occurred in the context of a working visit the team made to his Freetown office on Thursday, December 8, 2022. The IGP claims that this reaffirmation is based on the requirement to increase members’ capacity for producing the highest level of professional.

The IGP stated that he is one of those individuals who personally supported the creation of the IPCB, viewing it as a crucial tool that could support and uphold the human rights of citizens in this country. He added that it also aids in regulating the performance of police officers in carrying out their constitutional mandate in accordance with best practices for international human rights.

In order to attain this goal, Mr. Sellu promised to work closely with the IPCB and made reference to the necessity to increase public trust in the Police. He demonstrated his dedication by designating Mr. Kapr Saidu Kamara (AIG), the Director of Professional Standards, as the liaison officer to collaborate with the IPCB in policing the behavior of police officers.

Speaking on behalf of the IPCB team, Mr. Augustine Foday N’gobie, a representative of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) who also serves as the ACC’s Deputy Commissioner, explained that their goal in meeting with the IGP was to promote a positive working relationship between the Police and the IPCB. This is because the IPCB was established by the Police Council and given the authority by statute to carry out certain duties outlined in the Police Council’s charter.

According to him, the fundamental goal of the 2013 laws is to strengthen an organization that will collaborate closely with the Police in order to change the public’s impression of the latter as a FORCE FOR GOOD rather than as a repressive branch of the government working against the populace.

Deputy Commissioner N’gobie disclosed that the IPCB and the Police signed an MoU in August 2013 and subsequently requested that the terms of that MoU be honored in order to strengthen their understanding that the IPCB is not conducting a witch hunt against the Police and to improve their working relationship. He underlined that the maxim “HELP THE POLICE TO HELP YOU” is always emphasized in all public engagements of the IPCB.