It is a criminal offence to assault a police officer in the execution of his duty, or a person assisting an officer in the course of his duty. But it is now commonplace in Sierra Leone to see commercial drivers and bike riders assaulting police officers during the execution of their duties.
This has warranted the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone (HRCSL) to put out a statement strongly condemning violent attacks on police officers.
The Human Right Commission cited in its statement it put out on Monday the violent attack by one Ibrahim Bangura on Police Constable (18080) Mansaray while on duty. The incident was filmed and shared on social media.
The commission also condemned all other attacks that any law enforcement officers had been subjected to in recent times in the course of their lawful duties.
The Commission said that through its monitoring team on social media, PC 18080 Mansaray was seen being manhandled by the said civilian.
The Commission, therefore, called on the Sierra Leone Police to immediately charge the said matter to court without any further delay as the detention of the suspect has gone beyond the constitutional term limit.
“HRCSL engaged senior personnel of the SLP including the Head of CID, Crime Officer at the Central Police Division, Deputy Director of Communications, and the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Crime Services, all of whom confirmed that the said officer, PC 18080 Mansaray was the one seen assaulted in the said video and that the suspect is under police custody while investigations continue,” HRCSL said in its statement.
HRCSL also reminded citizens that they also owe a duty to be law-abiding and to support the work of law enforcement officers in carrying out their lawful responsibility as states in Section 13 (j) of the Constitution of Sierra Leone 1991 which stipulates: “Every citizen shall render assistance to appropriate and lawful agencies in the maintenance of law and order.”
The Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone (HRCSL) is the statutory body responsible to protect and promote human rights of all pursuant to Section 7 (1) of the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone Act (No.9) 2004.
By George M.O. Williams