Freetown, Sierra Leone – The Sierra Leone Police (SLP) have stepped up security along the Aberdeen and Lumley beach corridors with the installation of new surveillance cameras, a move aimed at reinforcing safety ahead of the busy festive season.
The initiative, spearheaded by Inspector General of Police William Fayia Sellu, forms part of a broader strategy to enhance real-time monitoring, deter criminal activity, and support rapid police response in two of Freetown’s most popular recreational areas.
Thousands of local and international visitors are expected to flock to the beaches over Christmas and New Year, traditionally a peak period for entertainment and nightlife.
According to police officials, the cameras have been strategically positioned to cover high-traffic zones, entertainment hubs, vehicle parking areas, and sections of the shoreline that have previously been prone to petty theft and disorderly behaviour. The technology will feed directly into a monitoring centre operated by trained officers throughout the festive period.
The SLP says the installation is part of ongoing efforts to modernise policing through digital tools, and additional measures, including increased foot patrols, traffic management and joint operations with tourism and municipal authorities, will be rolled out as December progresses.
According to the U.S. State Department’s latest travel advisory, updated in September 2025, petty theft remains “very common” in Lumley and Aberdeen, with robbers occasionally operating at knifepoint in beachside spots. The UK Foreign Office echoes these concerns, noting isolated incidents of armed robberies along the Freetown Peninsula, including Lumley Beach, where hospital waste like needles has also posed health risks for swimmers. Enhanced police patrols and better infrastructure in these western Freetown neighborhoods have improved daytime safety, but officials say the cameras will provide 24/7 deterrence amid rising economic pressures that fuel opportunistic crime.
Under IGP Sellu’s leadership, now in its third year since his 2022 appointment by President Julius Maada Bio, the SLP has prioritized community-oriented policing and technological upgrades. Sellu, a veteran officer credited with modernizing the force through initiatives like cyber labs and international training partnerships, emphasized during a recent address that “public safety is the bedrock of our nation’s progress.”
This beach surveillance project builds on those efforts, integrating high-resolution feeds linked to a central command center for swift response. It’s part of a broader festive security blueprint that includes increased foot patrols, community watch programs, and collaborations with the National Tourist Board (NTB).
