- 19 June 2023
No Ban on Vehicular Movement
The Inspector General of the Sierra Leone Police, William Fayia Sellu has disclosed that the police will not place ban on vehicular movement on Saturday 24th June 2023 elections.
IG Sellu last Friday 16th June this made the statement whiles addressing a joint press hosted at the headquarters of the Office of National Security (ONS), Tower Hill, Freetown, on the preparedness of the country’s security sector ahead for the elections.
He cautioned vehicle owners to move around with their vehicles for the right purposes.
If the intention of the movement is to disturb the smoothness of the electoral process, then such individual will blame him/herself because the law will descend heavily, as its no respecter of persons.
Among other things, IG Sellu informed that police have started a long engagement in the electoral process, citing voters’ registration, verification, collection of voter IDs, political campaigns, adding that the police stand ready to champion the policing of the elections.
He added that the SLP will be investigating electoral offences and code of conducts for officers in elections, revealing that deployment pattern already done on rapid reaction teams across the country.
Regardless of the existing threats around the process, Sellu assured the nation and development partners of a professional policing, adding that the deployments of personnel in flash points across the country will largely be driven by ONS security assessments. He explained that flash points are areas where gangs, ex-combatants are highly concentrated and swing districts like Tonkolili, Moyamba, Port Loko, Kono and Karena.
Sellu also spoke of the Pocket Guide on Election Security on Rules of Engagement during and after the June 24 polls.
The Pocket Guide on Election, he said is meant to provide a safe and secure environment for the conduct of the June 24, 2023, elections.
ONS, in planning and collaboration with other security agencies under the auspices of the Integrated Election Security Committee (IESPC).
The guide provides rules and guidance for security personnel and contains useful information to help them in the discharge of their duties professionally to share a peaceful and credible election security process.
The Pocket Guide on election security, in its content has election security personnel, duties and responsibilities of election security personnel’s dos for election security officers, polling staff, person allowed to enter the polling station, electoral offences and action against electoral offence contained in the 19 pages document.
The Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL), External Relations Department has long before now intimated the media that the commission did not produce any vehicular pass for the upcoming elections.