IPCB briefs media on progress report
In a report to this media house, the Chairman Independent Police Complaints Board (IPCB), Valentine Collier, has on Thursday, October 8th 2015 disclosed that there has been immense progress made so far by the Board of the IPC.
This disclosure was made at the usual Government press briefing at the Ministry of Information and Communications, Youyi building, west of Freetown.
Chairman Collier recalled 24th November, 2014 when the UNDP contracted the African Policing Civilian Oversight Forum (APCOF) to provide consultancy service for a period ending 30th June 2015 to support the operations of the IPCB through the establishment of internal systems and operating procedures, development of a monitoring and evaluation framework and development of communications strategy.
He mentioned that due to the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone and travel restrictions imposed, all engagements with the APCOF took place through remote operations and consultations with IPCB done via email and telephone like ups, which, he said yielded good dividend although this did not extensively test their capacity to perform.
He noted that the IPCB acknowledges that building police accountability will not be an easy task just as policing is multi facet and challenging, noting that the board is fully aware of the risk of being seen by the police as its antagonist and the need to attend to the demands from the public on the other hand, hence the view that the Complaints Board carried out its functions to the highest standards and robust organizational and investigative practices, provide the citizens of the country with some means of protecting themselves against poor or abusive police practices.
He further stated that these activities will be undertaken with a view to strengthen and improve the police and to improve its reputation and standing within the communities for a long term.
He pointed out that the IPCB’s reputation is crucial to achieving its objectives to affect public confidence in the system it oversees.
Collier further disclosed that since the enactment of the IPCB regulations, the UNDP Security Sector Reform (SSR) project and the Access to Security and Justice Program (ASJP) became central in supporting Government in the Operations of the IPCB apart from office equipment, furniture, 30kva generators and a vehicle that was added to the ongoing renovation of IPCB offices at New England Ville in Freetown.
He stressed that the potential for effective and credible police accountability which is a strategic objective of Government is now a reality in Sierra Leone and that it was clear that the Government of Sierra Leone is fully committed to and taken on board with the establishment of the Independent Police Complaints Board of Sierra Leone.
He furthered that their next step is to build the operational capacity and to enable the IPCB fully achieve its mandate, develop and sustain a relationship of trust and confidence between members of the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) and the communities’ safety and police legitimacy in a democratic society.
The Independent Police Complaints Board, he disclosed, is an independent civilian oversight body for the police, established by the Police Council under Section 158 of the Constitution of Sierra Leone 1991 (Act No.6 of 1991) to protect people from abusing police practices, adding, the mandate of the IPCB is to receive, investigate and monitor complaints from the citizens about the behavior of the police and to hold them accountable of any misconduct or violation of the rights of citizens.
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