LIMITED CAPACITY, RISING CRIME: SIERRA LEONE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 FREETOWN 000222

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR AF/W (JHUNTER)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/16/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL KCRM SL
SUBJECT: LIMITED CAPACITY, RISING CRIME: SIERRA LEONE
POLICE STRUGGLE

REF: FREETOWN 217

Classified By: Political Officer Amy LeMar for reasons 1.4 (b/d)


1. (C) Summary: The security situation in Sierra Leone,
always fragile, appears to have grown increasingly tenuous in
recent weeks. Concerns over rising levels of violent crime,
both in Freetown and across the country, are compounded by
the decreasing capacity of the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) to
respond effectively to calls. The SLP is ill-equipped to
coordinate an effective anti-crime operation or control any
outbreak of civil unrest, given the current shortfall of
resources, leadership, equipment, and training. SLP sources
note that without effective police intervention,
opportunistic`q{)QQ


2. (C) Although a cyclical rise in crime is to be expected as
the rainy season begins (noise of break-ins can be
camouflaged by heavy rains, and SLP response is expected to
be slower due to poor roads),the incidents this year strike
sources as more frequent, more violent, and more widespread
than in previous years. An SLP source notes that violent
crime and armed robberies are on the rise in the East of
Freetown (particularly Calaba Town, Cline Town, and
Wellington). Criminal gangs in these areas operate boldly,
repeatedly striking in the same neighborhoods. The gangs
carry and use their weapons, and victims have reportedly been
shot in the thigh and shoulder. A source expressed concern
that these gangs may soon begin to target the expatriates,
INGO's, and diplomatic houses located in the more affluent
western area of Freetown.

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Regional Violence
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3. (C) The criminal activity has not been restricted to
Freetown. In Mambolo village in the North Eastern province, a
mob burned a church to the ground and destroyed the village
water purification system (reftel). Villagers reported that
the village had been visited by smaller mobs twice in the
days preceding the burning, and that despite SLP knowledge of
the issue and presence in the village, the perpetrators were
still able to burn the church and escape from the scene.
Other small-scale incidents have been reported in the
Southern Province, and a recent meeting in Bo between the
SLP, political parties, and civil society organizations
indicated a lack of confidence from the public about the
police's ability to adequately control crowds and enforce
public order.

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SLP CAPACITY
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4. (C) The SLP currently suffer from a severe fuel shortage,
as well as internal discord over the coordination of the
force. Some of the Assistant Inspector Generals (AIG) believe
that the Inspector General (IG) is running the SLP as a
private business, and that the motivation to keep violent
crime in check competes with the profit motive. Local Unit
Commanders lack guidance and frequently operate independently
of the hierarchy; there appears to be no strategy for
comprehensively addressing the apparent increase in violent
crime. Without a clear line of command and control, the SLP
is often unable to carry out relatively simple response
operations, and would struggle to control any kind of
sustained civil unrest without resorting to violence
themselves.


5. (C) Although the SLP runs night patrols in some Freetown
neighborhoods, the police are generally frustrated by their
inability to respond to criminal incidents. The SLP's severe
fuel shortage leaves most of the force idle at headquarters,
unable to patrol or to respond in a timely fashion. A source
reported that only 20 of 200 individuals in a division are
currently able to be deployed on patrol. An AIG ran out of
fuel in Freetown and was informed by the IG that he would
have to purchase the fuel himself to continue his work (Note:
The Ministry of Finance was slow to provide the SLP with
their second quarter government transfer, which created at
least some of the material deficiencies. End note.).
Criminals are aware that the SLP's response capacity is
minimal, and the gangs are becoming increasingly confident
and audacious in their actions.

FREETOWN 00000222 002 OF 002




6. (C) The SLP is currently awaiting replenishment of $1
million of riot control equipment from the UN. The
procurement process has been slow, though needed tear gas
stocks were recently received. Although the SLP received riot
control training from the DFID-funded Commonwealth Police
Team, they do not have the appropriate equipment or the
command and controlfFs numbering in the
hundreds, the SLP's ineffectiveness Q@QfS&}ZQency in resources
and ,OjQlQ#Qme of his appointment in 2003 to
reorganize a corrupt and decrepit QQJmB(qited resources has not been his strong suit. A change at
the IG level, however, will not change the amount the SLP
receive in operational funding, nor necessarily their ability
to use it. As petty and violent crime increases against a
backdrop of growing transnational organized crime in Sierra
Leone and throughout the region, further assistance to
civilian security entities will be vital for preserving peace
and stability. The mood of a June 9 meeting of international
community members discussing security sector reform was
bleak. End comment.
FEDZER