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 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

I

Blama

Foredugu

Yengema

Kambia

Mayene

Mambolo

Mange Kotolon

Batkanu

Lungi

FREETOWN

Lumley

York Waterloo

Masiaka MasuriMoyambaJunction

Bauya

SamaiaKamakwie

Pendembu

Bonthe

Gbangbatok

NittiBamba

Momaligi

Pujehun

Bandajuma

Sulima

Potoru

Lunsar

MarampaRogberi

Makeni

Port Loko

Pepel

Magburaka

Njaiama Sewafe

SefaduJagbwema

Saiama

Bumbuna

Kurubonla

Kabala

Gberia Fotombu

Joru

DaruPendembu

Kailahun

Koribundu

Bo

Sembehun

Blama

Lago

Dodo

Kenema

Taiama

Mano

Hastings

Faranah

Yele

Mongeri

Forecariah

Kissidougou

Gueckedou

Koindu

Njaiama

Zimi

CONAKRY

10° N

9°

8°

12° 11°

7°

8°

9°

10° N

11°12°

13°W

ATLANTIC

OCEAN

L I B E R I A

G U I N E A

R

10°

10°

Sherbro Strait

13°W

Shenge

7°

SIERRA LEONE

International Boundary

Road

Rail

Airfield

I I I I

0 10 20 30 50

Miles

Kilometres

0 10 20 30

40

Sierra Leone Police

Police Primacy

“ 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. “

The Constitution of Sierra Leone, 1991( S.5. (2) b)

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

IntroductionMy Government wants to create a police service which will be a credit to the Nation.

The Role of the PoliceThe 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 streetsensure the safety and security of all people and their propertyrespect the human rights of all individualsprevent and detect crime by using the most effective methods which can be made available to themtake account of local concerns through community consultationat all levels be free from corruption

Equal OpportunitiesThe 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 GovernmentThe Government will do all in its power to ensure that the Sierra Leone Police is:

directed and managed in accordance with The Constitutionlocally managed so as to ensure that community views are always taken into considerationadequately resourced and financedwell 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 PeopleIn 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.

ConclusionOur 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.

Government Policy Statement

POLICE MISSION STATEMENT

supports

Strategic Development Plan

delivers

Structures Finance Logistics TrainingSystems &

Models

YearlyPolicing Plan

Aimsand Goals

Review

Statement of:•INTENTIONS•EXPECTATIONS•KEY NATIONAL OBJECTIVES•DYNAMIC

Highest Level CommitmentTakes Account of:•CONSULTATION / WISHES•OTHER KEY OBJECTIVES•CONSTITUTION

Highest Police Level, states:•PHILOSOPHY•AIMS•CORPORATE GOALS

Built from:•NATIONAL KEY OBJECVTIVES•INTERNAL / EXTERNAL CONSULTATION

Must be:•REALISTIC•LINKED TO GOSL FIRM BUDGET COMMITMENT and OTHER CONFIRMED RESOURCES

Review results help develop and sustain

Conceptual Overview of Policing Model for Sierra Leone

© CPDTF

GoSL Policing Charter

SLP Mission Statement

Strategic PlanAnnual Policing

Plan

Development Plan

National Key Objectives

Institutional Capacity in

Ministry

Develop Local Needs PolicingRe-establish primacy

Continue restructuring process+

How is success to be measured??

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

Develop:External InspectorateResearch/Planning/Support TeamNew legislation (Police Act, Regulations etc.)Police Council Secretariat

Structuresetc.

The Government side of the Policing Equation

Leanerand

Fitter

Most effective structure

Properly equipped

and maintained

Adequately trained

Efficient use of resources

Properly financed

Effective management

The right people, with the right skills, in the right place at the right time.

The most appropriate response to supportLocal Needs Policing

•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

Flatter Rank Structure based

on Roles and Responsibilities

IGPDeputy IGPAssistant IG’sChief SuperintendentSuperintendentASPInspectorSergeantConstable

Civilian

Support

Staff

Ministry of

Internal Affairs

Police Council(Pay and Conditions of Service) External Police OversightComplaints and DisciplineBudget SupportIndependent Inspectorate

LOCALNEEDS

POLICINGPARTNERSHIP

GovernmentPolice

People

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

Strategy and Direction

Operations Officer

Managing all day to day Operational aspects

Information Officer

Information Management

Crime Officer

Management of all day to day Crime Aspects

Support OfficerPlans LNP Delivery,

Welfare, Discipline and Auditing

Tasking and Co-ordination Group

(TSG)

JOC - Joint Operations Centre

(Carry out joint operations at local level)

•ECOMOG/MILITARY•POLICE

•CDF•LOCAL GOVERNMENT

JOC - Joint Operations Centre

(Carry out joint operations at local level)

•ECOMOG/MILITARY•POLICE

•CDF•LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Ministers’ Committee•Defence•Internal Affairs•Office of National Security

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

IntelligenceCollation, Analysis and Dissemination

Command and Control

JOC - Joint Operations Centre

(Carry out joint operations at local level)

•UNAMSIL/MILITARY•POLICE

•CDF•LOCAL GOVERNMENT

POLICY

Controlled Management of Policing a Post Conflict Situation

Model Local Command Unit (LCU)LUC Commander

Strategy and Direction

Administration Human Resources

Logistics Auditing

Members of theTasking and Co-ordination Group

(TCG)

Operations OfficerManaging all day today Operational aspects

Information OfficerManagement Information

Crime Officer Management of all day to day Crime aspects

Staffing of Police Stations/Posts

Community Liaison OfficersFamily Support Officers*

Special Constabulary

Operational Response

Traffic Management

Police Support Unit

Shift Commanders

Community Information

Crime Information

Statistics

Criminal Investigation Officers

SOCO (Scenes of Crime Officers)

Family Support Officers*

Managing Response, Service Delivery and Incident Control

Finance

LCU Support Officer

Planning LNP Delivery, Personnel, Welfare,

Auditing and Discipline

I Branch – General Investigations

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.