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At the Sierra Leone Police Peacekeeping and Law Enforcement Academy in Hastings, a strong message on standards, welfare, and institutional reform took centre stage as Inspector General of Police William Fayia Sellu engaged recruits in training.
Rather than focusing solely on discipline, the IGP’s engagement highlighted a broader push to strengthen the training environment and overall effectiveness of the police force. He underscored that while discipline remains fundamental, it must be matched with proper welfare, structured supervision, and accountability systems to produce competent officers.
A key concern raised during the visit was the living conditions of recruits. In response to ongoing water challenges at the academy, IGP Sellu announced plans to construct two solar-powered boreholes, signalling a practical step toward improving basic amenities essential for training. He also stressed that recruits should depend only on officially provided meals, discouraging informal food sales within the academy to maintain standards and fairness.
The IGP outlined a stricter monitoring framework, revealing that he would conduct unannounced visits to personally assess progress and compliance. This, alongside periodic assessments and tests, forms part of a broader effort to ensure only qualified and capable recruits proceed to the Passing-Out Parade.
On institutional discipline, he reaffirmed a zero-tolerance stance on drug use and misconduct, warning that violations-including possession of substances like tramadol or misuse of mobile phones during training- would lead to immediate dismissal. He further directed that recruits should not be granted passes within their first three months, reinforcing the need for full immersion in training.
The engagement also reflected the SLP’s ongoing commitment to inclusiveness and modernisation. IGP Sellu encouraged female recruits to actively participate in all aspects of training, reiterating the force’s gender equality policy. He noted that the removal of gender-specific titles such as “WPC” is part of efforts to promote uniformity and equal recognition across the force.
Additionally, the IGP revealed plans to expose recruits to a wider governance framework, with senior police leadership, including Assistant Inspectors General, as well as representatives from various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, expected to deliver lectures on institutional roles and collaboration.
The visit concluded with an inspection of facilities, where the IGP assessed accommodation and operational areas, offering recommendations aimed at improving both infrastructure and training delivery.
Overall, the engagement signalled a balanced approach-tightening discipline while simultaneously addressing welfare and institutional capacity-as the Sierra Leone Police works to build a more professional and responsive force.
