By: Aaron Bundu Lahai- Head of Media & Public Relations
The Vice President of the Republic of Sierra Leone Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh has cautioned the Sierra Leone Police Force to leave politics to the politicians. Vice President Jalloh stated that an active police officer is a professional who is expected to be fair, apolitical, and professional at all times; rather than serving a political interest. Dr. Jalloh made the statement during the passing out ceremony of the Sierra Leone Police Force at the Law Enforcement Academy, Hastings on Friday 9th April, 2021.
Vice President Jalloh encouraged the Sierra Leone Police to treat the public with respect and courtesy. Vice President Jalloh informed the Police about some of the priority of the New Direction Government which include justice, human rights, and equal protection of all citizens. Vice President Jalloh called on the Sierra Leone Police to forge strong partnerships and close cooperation with the citizens, he recommended for citizens to actively work with police to identify bad actors in their communities, if the Police wants to deliver sustainable security.
Vice President Jalloh informed the gathering on progress made in some key areas in the last three years. The areas include: The payment of around 3.4 million US Dollars of inherited debt; payment of inherited backlog of rice supply; procurement of 65 new vehicles and regularization of fuel supply to support operations; Police now benefitting from the annual leave allowances- which is an additional one-month salary for each personnel without tax; the provision of Government of Sierra Leone grant-in-aid to one hundred and forty-one police officers; the recruitment of over two thousand five hundred police personnel; and salary increment for the Police year-on-year by 10% across board in 2018, another 10% increment in 2019 for Grades 1-6 and 5% foe Grades 7-14, the Police will also benefit from the 2020 budget 25% increment that will be effective the end of April 2021 among others.
Vice President Jalloh applauded members of the Sierra Leone Police Force for their critical role to the nation’s success in the fight against COVID-19. Vice President Jalloh thanked the Police for meeting public safety goals even in difficult circumstances, and for the critical support the Police has given to NACOVERC in the enforcement and implementation of public health orders.
While addressing some of the issues the Inspector General identified in his statement as critical challenges, Vice President Jalloh made the following recommendations to some of the critical challenges: Urge the Sierra Leone Police to undertake a skills audit at the senior level and identify the specific aspects of strategic leadership and management training the force needs; encourage the Police to think about new possibilities for the best uses of new technologies to enhance policing and public safety in general; developed capacities for dealing with cybercrimes in Sierra Leone such as online fraud, child trafficking, narcotics, money laundering, and terrorism to name but few.