The Sierra Leone Police (SLP) is set to bolster its crime-fighting efforts with the introduction of 100 new criminal data collection workstations across the country. This initiative, aimed at combating Transnational Organized Crime, is being facilitated by INTERPOL through its West Africa Police Information System (WAPIS) program.

D/CSP Genevieve Tity Cowan, Head of INTERPOL in Sierra Leone Police, announced this development during the inaugural WAPIS National Steering Committee Meeting at the Atlantic Lumley Hotel in Freetown on June 18, 2024.

Commissioner Joseph Ibrahim Lahai, who serves as the Director of Crime Services and represented the Inspector General of Police at the event, praised the WAPIS program’s successes. “The digitalization of criminal data, particularly through the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS), is pivotal in combating Transnational Organized Crime in West Africa,” Lahai emphasized, expressing gratitude for INTERPOL’s implementation of the program.

Highlighting the operational benefits of the I-24/7 system, Lahai noted its role in enhancing police efficiency through streamlined data collection, analysis, sharing, referencing, and inter-institutional interfacing.

Francis Languba Keily, Chief of Staff at the Office of National Security, addressed the meeting as the keynote speaker on behalf of the government. He underscored the urgency of addressing Transnational Organized Crime, describing it as a borderless challenge requiring robust action. Keily acknowledged the European Union’s critical funding support for the WAPIS program and stressed the necessity of planning for a smooth transition post-2025.

“Investing in an exit strategy is essential to ensure the sustainability of these efforts beyond external funding,” Keily urged EU representatives, emphasizing the importance of governmental budgetary planning to sustain the program’s impact.

The meeting concluded with discussions focusing on technical and professional aspects of the WAPIS program, underscoring the collaborative efforts towards strengthening law enforcement capabilities in Sierra Leone.