Police Prosecutors Equipped on New Criminal Procedure Act 2024
The Sierra Leone Police (SLP), through its Training Directorate in collaboration with the Legal and Justice Support Department, has conducted a one-day intensive training session for police prosecutors on the newly enacted Criminal Procedure Act (CPA) 2024. The event was held at the Police Wives Multipurpose Hall in Kingtom, Freetown.
The training aimed to equip police prosecutors with the requisite knowledge and practical skills to effectively handle criminal cases under the country’s reformed legal framework. It marks a significant step in strengthening the administration of justice and ensuring efficient law enforcement in Sierra Leone.
Speaking on behalf of the Inspector General of Police, who was unavoidably absent, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Sahr Yomba Senesi described the CPA 2024 as a landmark development in the nation’s criminal justice system. He urged prosecutors to thoroughly familiarise themselves with the new law, noting that their competence in applying its provisions would not only help secure convictions but also enhance public confidence in the judiciary.
“The CPA is more than just a law; it is a tool for justice. Prosecutors must understand it in its entirety to deliver effective service,”
Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Juan Bull Kamara, Head of the Legal and Justice Support Department, underscored the vital role of prosecutors in ensuring the effective implementation of the new Act.
“The courtroom is not a place for endless adjournments. A careless prosecutor is the greatest enemy of justice,”
ACP Kamara cautioned, emphasizing that the Act must be treated as “a living reality and not just words on paper.”
In his remarks, ACP Joe Kamanda Bongay, Director of Training, said the session was designed to sharpen prosecutors’ skills and boost their confidence in handling cases.
“This training provides an opportunity to minimise errors and ensure prosecutors are adequately prepared to represent cases in court,”
he noted.
The training also featured insights from Senior State Counsel Alberta Kargbo of the Law Officers’ Department, and brought together police prosecutors from various courts across the country. Participants discussed practical approaches to interpreting and applying the CPA 2024 in their daily prosecutorial work.
The initiative forms part of the SLP’s ongoing efforts to promote professionalism within its ranks and to strengthen the effective enforcement of justice, transparency, and the rule of law in Sierra Leone.
