On Friday 23rd February, 2024, a cross section of Honourable Members of the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights led by Honourable Abdul Karim Kamara paid a familiarization visit to the Inspector General of Police – Mr. William Fayia Sellu at Police Headquarters, in Freetown.
According to the Chairman of the Committee, Honourable Abdul Karim Kamara, the purpose of their visit was to meet with IGP Sellu and the top senior management of the SLP in a bid to discuss the way forward for a sustainable working relationship on what they could do as Members of Parliament and the SLP on Human Rights issues and to ensure that they have a cordial relationship on the area of Human Rights issues, get first hand information and a possible area of advocacy.
He further maintained that over the years, Human Rights Parliamentary Committee has been instrumental as they visit place to place to see issues of human rights and bring out for possible solutions.
“We want to bring out all human rights players to a round table in order to discuss human rights issues in the country and map out strategies to address them,” noting that human rights records are part of democratic credentials and the SLP is very much important in this quest, Honourable Abdul Karim Kamara noted.
In response, IGP Sellu thanked the Honourable Members of the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights for their engagement with the SLP’s hierarchy, noting that they are aware of the fact that human rights violations do occur and which is why, according to the IGP, the SLP has internal control mechanisms that brought about the establishment of the Complaint Discipline and Internal Investigations Department (CDIID), tasked to checkmate the excesses of Police Officers, and make them accountable for their actions.
He alluded to other oversight bodies such as the Independent Police Complainant Board (IPCB), the Office of the Ombudsman, Human Rights Commission, among others.
IGP Fayia Sellu told the Committee that the SLP has incorporated human rights training into their basic recruits training manual as well as gender related issues, as police officers need to know the dos and don’ts when it comes to human rights related issues as human rights officials always visit police cells, stations and other dentention facilities.
IGP Sellu intimated the Committee that human rights violations have reduced in the SLP due to the creation of these regulatory bodies to check and regulate the conduct of Police Officers while excuting their duties.
He also thanked the Committee for the proposed plan of a one-day workshop and promised to include Police Officers from the provinces so that they too could benefit.
He assured the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights that he will remain grateful and committed to reducing the issues of human rights’ violations in the SLP.
In conclusion, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights commended the IGP for his explicit update, noting that he was very impressed with the willingness and readiness of the IGP and team to work with the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights.
Credit: SLP MEDIA TEAM
