By Amara Thoronka
The Sierra Leone Police has launched its Crime Statistics Report 2023, covering January 1st to December 31st last year. The report launch took place on Wednesday, 14th February, 2023, at a press conference held at the national police headquarters, George Street, Freetown.
Expo Times had access to the said report which reveals statistics on crime and crime rate in regions and districts across the country. The report gives highlight of total crime and road accident cases last year, emphasizing that the country has made progress in reducing crime rate.
“In 2023, a total of 30,491 criminal and road accident cases were reported and investigated in all six police command regions with an overall crime rate of 0.35%. Comparatively, there was a slight reduction of 0.4% in the rate of crime in 2023. In 2022, the number of cases reported was 33,157 with a crime rate of 0.39%. For the past years [2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023], the country has recorded considerable reduction in the rate of crime which ranked the country [Sierra Leone] third in Africa and first in West Africa as the most peaceful country” says the 2023 Crime Statistics Report.
On regional crime analysis, the report reveals that western region (Freetown east & west combined) recorded 18,988 cases representing 62%; northern region (north east & west combined) recorded 5,180 cases representing 17%. The national crime report further disclosed that the southern region recorded 3,275 cases with a percentage of 11%; while eastern region recorded 3,048 representing 10%.
The report puts the western area as the region more prone to crime, followed by northern region, southern region and eastern region.
Murder, robbery with violence, and robbery with aggravation are the major crimes reported in all the 36 divisions of the Sierra Leone Police across the country manned by Local Unit Commanders (LUCs).
“Out of the 30,491 cases in 2023, offenses against women and children recorded the highest number of 10,063 cases, this includes penetration, rape and sexual-gender-based violence. This is followed by property offenses with 7,033 including robbery, larceny, house breaking, and larceny bailee. Economic offenses recorded 3,992 cases including false pretences, fraudulent conversion, and obtaining credit by fraud. Road traffic offenses and crashes recorded 3,953 cases. Offenses against the person recorded 3,827 cases including murder, wounding, wounding with intent and assault. Public ordered offences recorded 1,435 cases with miscellaneous offenses recording 188 cases.”
The Family Support Unit (FSU) of the Sierra Leone Police, according to the crime statistics report, recorded 10,063 cases in 2023 as against 11,613 cases in 2022, signifying some reduction; adding that out of the recorded cases last year, 7,927 were domestic violence cases, 323 cases of child offenses and 1,813 cases of sexual offenses. According to the crime statistics report, 739 of the 10,063 cases were charged to court by the FSU with 1,052 cases closed; 1,218 cases kept in view and 7,054 cases still under investigations.
The report further states that there has been a decline in the rate of road accident in the country.
“… a total of 3,953 traffic accident cases were reported countrywide when compared to 4,124 cases in 2022. Comparatively, the rate of accident cases drastically declined by 171 cases in 2023. The Road Traffic Management Report indicates that 3,830 people were involved in accidents in 2023. Out of these figures, 490 people were fatally injured [male 390 and female 100], 1,341 seriously injured [male 822 and female 519] and 2,099 people were slightly injured [male 1,326 and female 773],” the crime statistics report revealed.
The report also gives statistics of transnational crimes, that is crimes relating to cross-border activities prohibited by law. The Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU) investigated a total of 269 cases, of which 106 cases were charged to court, 28 cases sent to the Director of Public Prosecution for legal advice, while 135 cases are still being investigated.
Land grabbing has been a serious issue over the years resulting in several intra-community, inter-community and person-to-person conflicts. Because of the sensitivity and seriousness of the menace, the Sierra Leone Police established the Anti Land Grabbing Unit.
“The Anti Land Grabbing Unit in the Sierra Leone Police investigated 334 land cases. Out of this figure, 39 cases were charged to court, 101 cases sent to the Ministry of Lands for verification of documents, 39 cases settled, 66 cases kept in view and 89 cases still under investigations,” the 2023 Crimes Statistics Reported cited.
The report also captures assault on police. 70 cases of assault on police were recorded, investigated and charged to court in 2023.
“Assault is a criminal offence and assaulting a police officer while performing his lawful duty is deemed an aggravated assault and is treated more seriously by the court. 70 cases of this were reported in 2023 as compared to 94 cases in 2022,” the crime report says.
Launching the 2023 Crime Statistics Report on behalf of the Inspector General of Police, Commissioner of Police Joseph Ibrahim Lahai who is the Director of Crime Services said the report is part of their mandate to keep the public informed on the rate and status of crime in the country.
He said such a report is very important in determining deployment of personnel and logistics and also in training personnel in effective crime management and crime prevention strategies.
Chairing of the press conference, Director of Professional Standards – AIG SahrSenesie noted that the media in raising awareness and in crime management, while stressing that it is through the media the police communicate and articulate their policies, operations and activities to the public.
He said the police have the constitutional responsibility to protect lives and properties maintain law and order and investigate and prosecute crimes; but however, stated that they can’t do it alone – the very reason why they need the corporation of everyone.
While responding to questions on public perception about the police, Assistant Commissioner of Police Brima Kamara, the police head of media and public relations said perception is influenced by several factors which may not represent the reality. He said they [police] are doing their job and will continue to do so professionally.
On the same public perception, Assistant Inspector General of Police Dr. Mohamed Jalloh, the Director of Medical Services said a person cannot be forced to change his/her perception as people can have fixed mindset about certain things, persons and institutions even when such perfection does not reflect the reality.
A steady improvement in stability and drastic reduction in crime is crucial in the development of any nation as only a stabilized country attracts foreign direct investments and boom in local trade and other inevitable socio-economic and political essentials of live.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Friday, February 16th, 2024 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
