By Emma Black
The Sierra Leone Police (SLP) has reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and public engagement during its latest weekly press briefing, held at the Senior Police Officers’ Mess in Kingtom, Freetown on 9 July 2025, the session served as an important platform for updating the public through the media on recent crime trends and ongoing investigations across the country.
During the briefing, senior police officials revealed that 156 solar batteries, earmarked for an electricity infrastructure project in Masiaka, had been stolen. The incident is currently under active investigation, and one suspect is in custody, assisting with inquiries. Authorities described the theft as a serious setback for the project and a matter of national concern.
The SLP also presented crime statistics for the second quarter of 2025, offering a regional breakdown of reported cases nationwide. The data showed that Freetown East and Freetown West remain crime hotspots, with Freetown East recording 798 reported cases, including 235 violent crimes, while Freetown West followed with 478 cases.
In contrast, other regions reported significantly lower figures, North East Region: 186 cases, North West Region: 199 cases, Eastern Region: 303 cases, Southern Region: 162 cases, the total number of reported cases nationwide for the period was 2,128, underscoring a steady rise in urban crime, particularly in economic hubs.
The police emphasized the urgent need for targeted crime prevention strategies, especially in densely populated urban areas like Freetown East and West, where property-related and economic crimes are becoming increasingly common.
SLP officials called on the public to remain vigilant and continue cooperating with law enforcement by reporting suspicious activity. They also assured the press that investigations into the solar battery theft and other high-profile cases are being handled with “utmost professionalism and urgency.”
The press briefing ended with a call for stronger community-police partnerships to combat crime and improve public safety across the country.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Wednesday,16th July, 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
