Police Train Community Safety Volunteers to Strengthen Crime Prevention in Karene
Sahid Bangura The Sierra Leone Police has trained members of the Local Policing Partnership Board (LPPB) and Community Safety Volunteers (CSVs) in Karene District to strengthen community participation in crime prevention and public safety.
The day-long training was held at Kamakwie Community Plaza under the leadership of Regional Police Commander AIG Esther Mary Kaintor-Dukuray. It brought together young people and community stakeholders to discuss their responsibilities in supporting law enforcement and maintaining peace in their communities.
Addressing participants on behalf of the regional commander, ASP Mariatu Fofanah commended LPPB members and CSVs for their contributions to local security, stressing that effective crime prevention required cooperation between the police and the communities they serve.
She also educated participants on human rights, lawful arrest and detention, and the dangers associated with substance misuse, particularly the use of tramadol, cannabis and kush.
ASP Fofanah warned against mob justice, urging participants to hand over suspected offenders to the police for proper investigation and legal action rather than taking the law into their own hands.
Inspector AbuBakarr Sidikie underscored the importance of police-community cooperation, describing it as a key element of the regional commander’s approach to policing. He encouraged participants to provide timely and credible information to the police to support crime prevention and maintain public order.
Participants were also reminded to exercise discipline, respect constituted authority and operate within the rules governing their responsibilities. The training emphasised that misconduct by community safety personnel would not be tolerated.
In his closing remarks, Kamakwie Local Unit Commander Superintendent John S. Koroma thanked the regional headquarters team for delivering the training. He expressed confidence that the knowledge gained would help participants improve police-community relations and contribute to crime prevention across the district.
The participants pledged to work closely with the Sierra Leone Police to promote peace, strengthen community safety and support efforts to prevent crime throughout Karene District.