POLICE AND THE COMMUNITY
A PRESENTATION BY
FRANCIS ALIEU MUNU
SENIOR ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF THE
SIERRA LEONE POLICE
TO THE BAHRAIN MEETING OF THE
INTERNATIONAL POLICE EXECUTIVE
SYMPOSIUM – OCTOBER 11TH – 16TH 2003
13°W
11°
12°
SIERRA LEONE
10°
N
Gberia Fotombu
CONAKRY

Samaia


 Kamakwie

10°
Faranah
10°
N

G U I N E A
Kabala
Forecariah


Mayene
Pendembu

Kambia
9°
Mange

Mambolo



Rogberi



Lumley 
Hastings
York

Foredugu

Marampa
 
Lunsar



Jagbwema

Yengema

Njaiama




 Mongeri
Shenge 


Blama



Bonthe


8°
Kenema
Bamba
Nitti


Sembehun
Pendembu
Daru
Bo

Gbangbatok
Koindu
Kailahun
Dodo
Lago 
Mano


 Taiama

OCEAN
Gueckedou
Yele
Masuri
Bauya

Sefadu


8°
Magburaka
Moyamba
Junction 
Waterloo
ATLANTIC
Saiama
Njaiama Sewafe
Masiaka

9°
Kotolon


Kissidougou
Bumbuna
R
Pepel
FREETOWN



 Makeni
Port Loko
Lungi

Batkanu

I
Kurubonla
Momaligi

Bandajuma

Koribundu
Joru

 Potoru

International Boundary
Road

Rail
I
I
I
I
Sherbro Strait
Pujehun
Airfield
7°
0
0
Zimi
L I B E R I A
10
10

30 Miles
20
20 30
40
50 Kilometres
7°
Sulima

Sierra Leone Police
Police Primacy
The Constitution of Sierra Leone, 1991
( S.5. (2) b)
“ the security, peace and welfare of the
people of Sierra Leone shall be the primary
purpose and responsibility of Government,
and to this end it shall be the duty of the
Armed Forces, the Police, Public Officers
and all security agents to protect and
safeguard the people of Sierra Leone. “
Historical Perspective
• 1787 the ‘Province of Freedom’ founded as a
settlement for freed slaves following the famous Lord
Mansfield’s decision in 1772
• 1808 Sierra Leone Frontier Police to protect the
borders with hostile neighbours
• ‘Province of Freedom’ renamed Freetown
• 1896 The court messenger force was established in the
hinterland of Sierra Leone when the British declared it
a protectorate
Historical Perspective
• 1898 Bai Bureh and the ‘Hut Tax’ war rebelled
against the Court Messengers collecting taxes
on behalf of the colonial authorities.
Historical Perspective
• 1920’s saw the merger of the Court Messenger
Force and Frontier Force
• Renamed Sierra Leone Police Force
• 1961 at Independence SLP was a ‘model’ force
for Africa
• In the post independence era, SLP became
corrupt, tyrannical and inefficient
Sierra Leone in 2002
•
•
•
•
11 years of civil war ends
Country devastated
People living on less than one US dollar a day
Over 150,000 people killed and half a million
refugees or internally displaced
• 50,000 ex-combatants given re-integration
benefits
Sierra Leone Police
• Police reform top of Government agenda
• 1997 Commonwealth assisted with
reorganisation of police
• 1999 Ex-patriate UK Inspector-General of
Police appointed to spearhead a restructuring
process of the police
• 2000 Provision of uniforms, vehicle and radios
THE SIERRA LEONE POLICE
Government Policing Charter
Introduction
My Government wants to create a police service which will be a credit to the Nation.
The Role of the Police
The Sierra Leone Police will assist in returning our communities to peace and prosperity by acting in a manner which will:
eventually remove the need for the deployment of military and para-military forces in our villages, communities and city streets
ensure the safety and security of all people and their property
respect the human rights of all individuals
prevent and detect crime by using the most effective methods which can be made available to them
take account of local concerns through community consultation
at all levels be free from corruption
Equal Opportunities
The personnel policies of the Sierra Leone Police will be the same for all members, regardless of sex or ethnic origin. All recruitment, training,
postings, promotions and opportunities for development will be based on a published equal opportunities policy.
The Role of My Government
The Government will do all in its power to ensure that the Sierra Leone Police is:
directed and managed in accordance with The Constitution
locally managed so as to ensure that community views are always taken into consideration
adequately resourced and financed
well equipped to undertake its duties,
professionally trained,
dynamically led and,
that the terms and conditions of service for members of the Sierra Leone Police reflect the importance of the task they
perform.
The Role of the People
In order that our police officers can successfully fulfil our expectations, it is essential that all people of Sierra Leone help and support them at
all times.
Conclusion
Our aim is to see a reborn Sierra Leone Police, which will be a force for good in our Nation.
SIERRA LEONE POLICE
A Force for Good
Our Duty
We will provide a professional and effective service which:
•Protects Life and Property
•Achieves a peaceful society
•Takes primacy in the maintenance of Law and Order
Our Values
We will respect Human Rights and the freedoms of the individual.
We will be honest, impartial, caring and free from corruption.
Our Priorities
We will respond to local needs.
We will value our own people.
We will involve all in developing our policing priorities.
Our Aim
To win public confidence by offering reliable, caring and
accountable police services.
Conceptual Overview of Policing Model for Sierra Leone
Highest Level Commitment
Takes Account of:
•CONSULTATION / WISHES
•OTHER KEY OBJECTIVES
•CONSTITUTION
Government Policy
Statement
Statement of:
•INTENTIONS
•EXPECTATIONS
•KEY NATIONAL OBJECTIVES
•DYNAMIC
supports
Built from:
•NATIONAL KEY OBJECVTIVES
•INTERNAL / EXTERNAL
CONSULTATION
POLICE MISSION
STATEMENT
Highest Police Level, states:
•PHILOSOPHY
•AIMS
•CORPORATE GOALS
delivers
Must be:
•REALISTIC
•LINKED TO GOSL FIRM
BUDGET COMMITMENT and
OTHER CONFIRMED
RESOURCES
Strategic
Development Plan
Structures
Finance
Logistics
Review
Review results help develop and sustain
© CPDTF
Training
Yearly
Policing Plan
Systems &
Models
Aims
and Goals
The Government side of the Policing Equation
GoSL Policing
Charter
National Key
Objectives
Develop Local Needs Policing
Re-establish primacy
Continue restructuring process
+
How is success to be measured??
SLP Mission
Statement
Annual
Policing
Plan
Strategic Plan
Development
Plan
Structures
etc.
Role:
•Provide advice and guidance to GoSL
•Provide external oversight of Policing
•Disciplinary body for IGPs
•Set, measure and review National Key
Objectives and Priorities
•Provide proper resourcing
Institutional
Capacity in
Ministry
Develop:
External Inspectorate
Research/Planning/Support Team
New legislation (Police Act, Regulations etc.)
Police Council Secretariat
Properly
equipped
and
maintained
Most
effective
structure
Properly
financed
Effective
management
Leaner
and
Fitter
Adequately
trained
Efficient use
of resources
The right people, with the right skills, in the
right place at the right time.
•UNITED and APOLITICAL
•Totally Civilian (NO military trappings)
•Accountability de-centralised
•Resources locally managed
•Decision making at lowest possible level
•Openness
•Corporate Standards
•HQ Supports service delivery on the ground
•National Squads as necessary
•Staff associations
•Equal Opportunities
•Sustainable
Police
The most appropriate response to support
Local Needs Policing
Ministry
of
Internal Affairs
Police Council
(Pay and Conditions of
Service)
External Police Oversight
Complaints and Discipline
Budget Support
Independent Inspectorate
Government
LOCAL
NEEDS
POLICING
PARTNERSHIP
People
Flatter Rank
Structure based
on Roles and
Responsibilities
IGP
Deputy IGP
Assistant IG’s
Chief Superintendent
Superintendent
ASP
Inspector
Sergeant
Constable
Civilian
Support
Staff
Local Needs Policing
A system of policing that meets the
expectations and needs of the local
community and reflects national standards
and guidelines.
Local Command Unit
A body of people, effectively and efficiently
managed, accountable and with devolved
authority, designed to deliver the policing
needs of the local community.
Model Local Command Unit (LCU)
LCU Commander
Support Officer
Strategy and Direction
Plans LNP Delivery,
Welfare,
Discipline and Auditing
Tasking and
Co-ordination Group
(TSG)
Operations Officer
Information Officer
Crime Officer
Managing all day to day
Operational aspects
Information
Management
Management of all day
to day Crime Aspects
Controlled Management of Policing a Post Conflict Situation
Ministers’ Committee
•Defence
•Internal Affairs
•Office of National Security
P
O
L
I
C
Y
JCC - Joint Command Centre
•Chief of Defence Staff
•GOC UNAMSIL
•IGP
•CDF
•Intelligence
JIG - Joint Intelligence Committee
•Military Intelligence
•CDF Intelligence
•National Intelligence
•Special Branch
Intelligence
Command and Control
Collation, Analysis
and Dissemination
JOC - Joint Operations Centre
JOCoperations
- Joint Operations
Centre
(Carry out joint
at
local
level)
JOC
Joint Operations Centre
(Carry out joint operations at local level)
(Carry
out joint operations at local level)
•ECOMOG/MILITARY
•ECOMOG/MILITARY
•POLICE
•UNAMSIL/MILITARY
•POLICE
•CDF
•CDF•POLICE
•LOCAL GOVERNMENT
•CDF
•LOCAL GOVERNMENT
•LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Model Local Command Unit (LCU)
LUC Commander
Strategy and Direction
LCU Support Officer
Planning LNP Delivery, Personnel, Welfare,
Auditing and Discipline
Administration
Human Resources
Logistics
Auditing
Members of the
Tasking and Co-ordination Group
(TCG)
Finance
Operations Officer
Managing all day today Operational aspects
Staffing of Police Stations/Posts
Community Liaison Officers
Family Support Officers*
Special Constabulary
Information Officer
Management Information
Crime Officer
Management of all day to day Crime aspects
Community Information
Criminal Investigation Officers
Crime Information
SOCO (Scenes of Crime Officers)
Statistics
Family Support Officers*
Operational Response
I Branch – General Investigations
Traffic Management
Police Support Unit
Shift Commanders
Managing Response, Service Delivery and
Incident Control
Sierra Leone Police – from
Crisis to Confidence
New departments set up
• Complaints, Discipline and Internal Investigations
Department
• Inspectorate Department
• Operations Planning Department
• Police Support Group
• Family Support Unit
• Community Relations Department
• Media and Public Relations Unit.
United Nations Support to Sierra
Leone Police
• 170 UNCIVPOL deployed in training and
mentoring restructuring process
• UN Development Programme and UN Trust
Fund rebuilt some of the police infrastructure
• Capacity building of the SLP in response to the
Adjustment, Drawdown and Withdrawal of
Unamsil Peace Keeping Force.
Commonwealth Support to the
Sierra Leone Police
• The Commonwealth Police Development Task Force
renamed Commonwealth Community Safety and
Security Project.
• The project now encompasses wider issues of
community safety, improving Sierra Leone Police
institutional capacity, humanitarian services to reduce
poverty and promote access to injustice
• Support the change management process in the Sierra
Leone Police
Police and Community
• Police Researchers and practitioners paying
increased attention to:
– Solving and preventing crime
– Within the context of growing communities
– Using past experiences to develop effective
strategies to deal with current and future threats
Police Becoming Community
Oriented
• Community participation included in various
police mission statements
• Police alone cannot deal with crime and the root
causes of crime
• Adopting multi agency approach
Police And Community Support
Each Other
• Strong police support strong community
• Strong community support a strong police force
• Police effectiveness is determined by
community dynamics
A Weak Community Cannot
Support A Strong Police
• Police works for every sector for the community
• Police needs money from the community
• Police needs community input
Community Perception Determines
The Success Of The Police
• No police force can survive without:
–Community acceptance
–Community participation
–Community support
• Policing by consent helps the police to keep
vast populations under the law
Conclusion
• Increased threats of instability, public disorders,
criminality, narcotic drugs and cross border crimes
• Police all over the world are becoming increasingly
concern with community safety
• Police forces need to work closely with communities
to identify and deal with these threats
• Need to promote exchange of ideas, sharing
information and monitor movement of criminals across
frontiers.
Conclusion
• Sierra Leone today focuses on national security
objectives, national recovery, poverty reduction
and access to justice
• Lots of investment in the police to achieve these
community aspirations.
I Thank the Ipes directorate for
giving me the opportunity to be part
of this most valuable meeting. I
also acknowledge the good work of
the organisers as well as our hosts. I
thank you for listening to my
presentation and I welcome your
comments.