Over 10,000 personnel from the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) completed various training programmes in 2025, a significant step towards modernising policing in the country. The training focused on critical areas including Public Order Management, Collaborative Policing, Senior Management and Leadership, Artificial Intelligence, the Criminal Procedure Act 2024, and Crime Scene Investigation.
This initiative is part of the SLP’s broader transformation from a traditional “Force” to a modern “Service,” aimed at effectively addressing contemporary security challenges. Inspector General of Police, Mr. William Fayia Sellu, played a vital role in securing both local and international training opportunities through collaboration with international counterparts, development partners, and donor agencies.
The training reflects the evolving nature of policing, emphasising professionalism, modern investigative techniques, and improved community relations. The introduction of Artificial Intelligence training underscores the importance of technology in policing today, while training in crime scene investigation and the new Criminal Procedure Act will enhance officers’ investigative capabilities.
The SLP also aims to improve its ability to manage public events through training in public order management and collaborative policing. Personnel from various ranks and departments benefited, reinforcing the idea that investing in training is crucial for sustainable institutional change.
With 10,226 personnel trained, this marks one of the largest capacity-building efforts in the SLP’s history. The ongoing reforms under IGP Sellu focus on professional development, technology integration, and specialised skills, recognising the need for well-trained officers to respond to emerging crimes and complex security challenges.
This initiative highlights the importance of collaboration between the SLP, government, international partners, and other stakeholders in enhancing the country’s policing capacity and improving public safety.
