The Sierra Leone Police (SLP) has commenced a two-day Operational Readiness and Command Workshop at the Sierra Leone Peacekeeping and Law Enforcement Academy, bringing together senior operational commanders and police leaders from across the country as part of efforts to strengthen leadership, improve operational effectiveness, and enhance strategic planning in response to emerging security threats.
The workshop, which is anchored on the National Threat Assessment and Strategic Action Plan 2026–2027, assembled Support Officers, Heads of the Operations Support Division, Regional Coordinators, and Operations Officers from the various police regions to review existing operational strategies and equip participants with the leadership and command skills required to effectively address the country’s evolving security landscape.
Speaking during the opening ceremony, ACP Brima Kamara Esq. welcomed participants and distinguished guests, including Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Brima Kanneh, Regional Police Commander Freetown East, and the Acting Director of Corporate Affairs, CSP Brima Q. Sesay.
ACP Kamara described the workshop as a critical investment in the professional development of police personnel, noting that the true value of the exercise would be reflected not in the discussions held during the sessions but in how participants apply the knowledge and strategies acquired to improve operational leadership, service delivery, and policing outcomes across the country.
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Inspector General of Police, AIG Brima Kanneh conveyed the IGP’s goodwill to participants, explaining that the Inspector General was unable to attend due to prior official engagements. He reaffirmed the Police leadership’s unwavering commitment to continuous training, institutional development, and capacity building as key pillars in the transformation of the Sierra Leone Police.
AIG Kanneh underscored the central role of effective leadership in modern policing, stressing that the quality of decisions taken by commanders at every level directly influences operational success, crime prevention, public confidence, and the relationship between the police and the communities they serve.
He said the workshop forms part of the broader implementation of the Sierra Leone Police Strategic Plan 2025–2029, which seeks to build a more professional, accountable, disciplined, and community-oriented police service capable of responding effectively to contemporary security challenges.
According to the AIG, the training will focus on critical operational areas, including command and control, operational leadership, intelligence-led policing, discipline, strategic planning, operational readiness, resource management, and inter-agency collaboration.
He noted that these competencies are not merely theoretical concepts but practical leadership tools that must be demonstrated daily by police commanders in stations, divisions, operational deployments, and community engagements across the country.
Emphasising that leadership goes beyond rank and authority, AIG Kanneh reminded participants that effective leadership is rooted in responsibility, integrity, accountability, and professionalism. He urged commanders to lead by example, observing that junior officers often mirror the conduct, discipline, and ethical standards demonstrated by their supervisors.
“The image of the Sierra Leone Police is shaped every day by the decisions we make and the standards we uphold,” he told participants, adding that public trust in the institution depends largely on the professionalism and accountability exhibited by police commanders.
He encouraged officers to actively participate throughout the workshop by sharing practical experiences, challenging conventional approaches, exchanging ideas, and learning from one another, with the ultimate objective of translating classroom discussions into measurable improvements in operational planning, coordination, accountability, and public service delivery.
AIG Kanneh also expressed appreciation to the facilitators for their expertise and commitment to strengthening the operational capacity of the force, urging participants to maximise every learning opportunity presented during the programme.
On behalf of the Inspector General of Police, he officially declared the 2026–2027 National Threat Assessment and Strategic Action Plan Workshop open, expressing confidence that the training would further enhance the Sierra Leone Police’s preparedness to respond to emerging security threats while advancing institutional excellence.
The workshop reflects the Sierra Leone Police’s continued commitment to investing in human capital development and strengthening operational leadership as it pursues its vision of building a modern, professional, accountable, and responsive law enforcement institution capable of effectively safeguarding lives, property, and national security.