By Hassan Ibrahim Conteh
The United Nations Police Chief has called for a stronger partnership between the Sierra Leone Police and the public.
Ms. Maria Appelblom, Chief of the Standing Police Capacity (SPC) in the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO), said while Sierra Leone had made meaningful gains in the area of community policing it needed to strengthen the collaboration between the police force and the public.
“A closer partnership between the public and their police service would not only create trust between the police and the population but it is a sure path to a safe environment, and would assist in maintaining public order and countering criminality,’’ she said.
Ms Appelblom made this comment at the end of a 10-day visit to Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone. Her visit was to find out the lessons that may have been learnt during the transition from conflict, which both countries had experienced. She said the lessons from previous United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone could be applicable to other countries like Ivory Coast and Liberia, which have existing UN Missions in terms of addressing some challenges.
“Successful developments have been made and I would like to see the lessons that can be captured from the transition in Sierra Leone being used for the benefit of other missions.’’ She reaffirmed the SPC support to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sierra Leone, with a view to further strengthening cooperation.
Ms Appelblom had met with key security sector partners like the Director of Office of National Security (ONS), the Inspector General of Police and the chairman of the Independent Police Complaints Board, amongst others, as part of her visit in the country.
Since 2014, the UNDP Sierra Leone office has been receiving support from DPKO for the development of Police Reform Advisors to strengthen the capacity of the security sector through its project called Access to Justice and Support Reform.
(C) Politico 21/04/16
