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With support from a Retired Senior US Military Officer Jerry W. Torres, the setting up of a Global Cyber Security Unit in the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) has commenced with two-week training of ten personnel at the Senior Police Officers Mess Kingtom.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the United States of America, His Excellency Sidique Aboubakarr Wai disclosed that Jerry W. Torres was moved by President Julius Maada Bio’s incredible leadership style and selfless service to the people of Sierra Leone.
Ambassador Wai furthered that the 2021 Cyber Security and Crime Act elevates the Nation as the new leader in Cyber Security and the fight against Cyber Crime.
This Act, he said, compelled Sierra Leone to implement effective, unified and comprehensive legal regulatory and institutional framework for the prohibition, prevention, detective and punishment of cyber-crimes.
He added that the Act prevents the abusive use of computer system, develop structures to promote cyber security and capacity building, timely and effective collection of electronic evidences for the purpose of investigations and prosecutions of cyber-crime, protect computer systems and networks, electronic communications and to facilitate International corporations in dealing with cyber-crimes.
President Julius Maada Bio, he said, therefore directed the formation of Cyber Investigations Unit initiated to provide the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) with the capability to investigate cyber-crimes using cyber resources.
Inspector General of the SLP, Ambrose Michael Sovula stated that his aim for the SLP has always been closing the training gap.
The training, he said, was not only attractive but was customized to meet global trends of policing, adding that the SLP was lucky to benefit from such training, with he required equipment.
He expressed optimism that after the training, the Unit would help alleviate the challenges of inadequate responses to cyber related crime reports from the public.
Chairman of the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Internal Affairs, Hon Alusine Kanneh underscored the need for such training; emphasising, that the establishment of a cyber security unit in the SLP is a laudable venture in the fight against crime, especially now that we are living in a digital era.
He called on the police leadership to maintain the Unit by making sure it is well-resourced.
It can be recalled that in a meeting at the Police Headquarters in April this year, Ambassador Wai informed the Executive Management Board (EMB) of the SLP that 5 major first class computers well customized for cyber security had arrived in the country for the setting up of global cyber security unit in SLP.
