By Emma Black

The Sierra Leone Police (SLP) has extended its Smart City Project to Makeni, North-East Region, with the installation of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras at strategic locations across the city.

The initiative, originally launched in 2014, has been revitalized and accelerated under the leadership of Inspector General of Police (IGP) William Fayia Sellu. Similar CCTV installations have already been completed in the Western Area and Bo in the Southern Region.

According to the SLP, the rollout of CCTV cameras aims to enhance public safety, strengthen proactive policing, and improve emergency response through modern technology. The cameras are equipped with solar panels, high-capacity storage, and the capability to record video and capture still images for investigative and monitoring purposes.

The project is part of IGP Sellu’s broader reform agenda to transform the SLP from a traditional “Force” into a community-oriented “Service.” Other key reforms include the review of the Police Act of 1964, the strengthening of the Complaints, Discipline, and Internal Investigations Department (CDIID), and the implementation of targeted training programs to equip officers with skills to address emerging security challenges.

Plans are already in motion to expand the Smart City Project to Kenema in the Eastern Region and Port Loko in the North-West Region, further extending surveillance coverage and urban safety measures.

Residents of Makeni have welcomed the initiative, describing it as a positive step toward protecting lives and property while boosting confidence in law enforcement services.

Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Monday,18th August 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)