Sierra Leone Police, Community Leaders Unite to Strengthen Crime Prevention
Kanja Sesay Chairmen of Local Police Partnership Boards (LPPBs) in Sierra Leone’s Western Area have pledged their support for the revival of the Community Safety Volunteers (CSVs) initiative as part of renewed efforts to strengthen crime prevention, improve intelligence-sharing and enhance public safety.
The commitment was made during a meeting with Inspector-General of Police (IGP) William Fayia Sellu on Friday, October 23, 2026, in Freetown.
The engagement focused on strengthening community policing, rebuilding public confidence in the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) and improving cooperation between law enforcement authorities and local communities.
During the meeting, the delegation also congratulated IGP Sellu on his reappointment by President Julius Maada Bio, reaffirming their commitment to supporting the police in addressing security challenges across the country.
The delegation was led by Mr Sao Lamin and included Mr Murana Wai, Chairman of the Kissy Division LPPB; Mr Mahmoud R. Kabba, Chairman of Goodrich; and Mr Simeon B. Sesay, Chairman of Congo Cross.
The chairmen emphasised the importance of community participation in maintaining peace and security, noting that effective crime prevention requires close collaboration between residents and police officers.
They reaffirmed their readiness to work with the Sierra Leone Police to identify emerging security threats, encourage timely information-sharing and support initiatives aimed at preventing criminal activities.
According to the delegation, stronger partnerships between communities and law enforcement agencies could help improve public confidence and encourage residents to take a more active role in addressing security concerns.
A major issue raised during the discussions was the declining effectiveness of the Community Safety Volunteers initiative in several communities.
The programme is intended to support community policing by encouraging residents to cooperate with law enforcement authorities, share relevant security information and contribute to local crime prevention efforts.
However, concerns were raised about the reduced effectiveness of the initiative, prompting calls for renewed attention and stronger institutional support.
The LPPB chairmen pledged to support efforts to revitalise the programme, recognising the important role community volunteers can play in identifying potential security threats and helping police respond before situations escalate.
They stressed that effective community participation could improve early warning mechanisms, strengthen information-sharing and support timely police intervention.
Responding to the delegation, Inspector-General William Fayia Sellu urged Local Unit Commanders and other police personnel to take greater responsibility for supporting Community Safety Volunteers.
He emphasised that the initiative should move beyond formal arrangements and produce measurable improvements in community safety.
The IGP called for stronger engagement between police officers, volunteers and local residents to ensure that information-sharing and crime prevention activities deliver practical results.
He also stressed the importance of maintaining public trust through accountability, cooperation and responsiveness to community security concerns.
Sellu encouraged police personnel to recognise community volunteers as important partners in supporting crime prevention and improving relations between law enforcement agencies and the public.
As part of broader efforts to strengthen community policing structures, IGP Sellu proposed the conduct of elections for Local Police Partnership Board executives across all 39 police divisions nationwide.
The proposed elections are intended to strengthen leadership, improve accountability and enhance coordination within the boards.
The Inspector-General also expressed his willingness to engage the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to accelerate the validation of the LPPB Constitution.
The proposed constitutional framework is expected to provide clearer guidance on the responsibilities, operations and governance of Local Police Partnership Boards.
Sellu further emphasised that the recruitment and engagement of Community Safety Volunteers should be coordinated with LPPB leadership to promote transparency and effective management.
He encouraged board executives to remain active, accountable and responsive to the security needs of the communities they represent.
The meeting highlighted the growing importance of community policing in strengthening public safety and building trust between citizens and law enforcement authorities.
Through the proposed revival of Community Safety Volunteers and reforms to Local Police Partnership Boards, the Sierra Leone Police aims to improve cooperation with residents and strengthen local crime prevention mechanisms.
The discussions also underscored the need for community policing structures to remain functional and responsive to emerging security challenges.
If effectively implemented, the proposed measures could improve intelligence-sharing, encourage early reporting of suspicious activities and support faster police responses to potential threats.
The engagement concluded with the presentation of a picture frame to Inspector-General Sellu by the visiting LPPB chairmen as a gesture of appreciation.
The renewed commitment from the board leaders reflects ongoing efforts to promote shared responsibility for security and strengthen cooperation between the Sierra Leone Police and communities across the country.