INTERPOL Trains Sierra Leone Police to Track Criminals Across Borders
Sia Lucy Kannah Delegates from the INTERPOL General Secretariat in France have launched a two-day technical training for personnel of the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) aimed at strengthening the Force’s ability to track suspects and share criminal intelligence across international borders.
The training, which opened on Tuesday in Freetown, focuses on the management and operational use of the INTERPOL Database Management Tool (DMT), enabling SLP officers to manage, update, retrieve and cross-reference vital law enforcement information.
Through INTERPOL’s secure I-24/7 communications network, member countries can access international databases containing information on wanted persons, stolen and lost travel documents, stolen motor vehicles, fingerprints, DNA profiles and criminal records.
The training is designed to help police officers identify links between suspects and international organised crime networks, verify travel documents and support cooperation with law enforcement agencies in other countries.
Opening the workshop, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Alpha Kamara, Head of the SLP Training Department, welcomed the INTERPOL delegation and emphasized the importance of continuous professional development in improving police operations.
DSP Kamara said effective management and use of police information are essential for investigations, intelligence gathering and international police cooperation. He urged participants to ensure that police records are accurately documented, securely managed and readily accessible during operations.
Representing INTERPOL Headquarters, Operations Specialist Ms. Najwa Hemri and Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Sheku Bahja-Koroma provided technical guidance on the Database Management Tool and its role in supporting real-time criminal intelligence and international information sharing.
The experts stressed that accurate and timely data entry helps law enforcement agencies identify connections between suspects and criminal networks, while maintaining strict standards of data integrity, confidentiality and professional ethics.
According to INTERPOL, its global databases generated 1.8 million operational hits in 2024, highlighting the importance of international police databases in modern crime-fighting.
The two-day training forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the SLP’s technical capacity, improve cross-border information sharing and enhance cooperation in the fight against transnational organised crime across West Africa.