In March 2009, Sierra Leone witnessed a terrible eruption of violence since the cessation of the decade-long conflict in 2002. Violent clashes involving mostly the supporters of the two main political parties, the governing All Peoples Congress (APC) and the major opposition party, the Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP), resulted in multiple severe injuries, cases of alleged sexual assaults as well as destruction of property, including burning of vehicles in SLPP's offices.

The Sierra Leone Police were unable to properly control the crowd and protect civilians in the course of the mayhem. Fortunately however, the UN Integrated Peace Building Mission in Sierra Leone responded immediately by bringing the aggrieved parties to commit themselves to peace, which culminated into a joint communiqué.

That upsurge of violence demonstrated that the SLP had to be strengthened to perform its role in consolidating peace and recovery by providing security to the society. It was against this background that a proposal was made to the Emergency Window Peace building Fund, which graciously provided $1,000,000 USD in financial support to the Sierra Leone Police. This fund was utilized in two major ways for the police. First in the provision of riot control equipment for Crowd Control Units, Mobile Armed Response Vehicles Units and Police Support Units in all 32 Police Divisions in the country; and in the provision of much needed training in crowd control.

Consequently, public order equipment was received and issued to the SLP for their use. The equipment package also included two large Mitsubishi trucks and two smaller Toyota Hilux Trucks to help facilitate operations. With UNIPSIL Police and National Security Unit Advisers leading the way training began on 19 October and was completed on 10 December 2009.

The goal was to train 3,000 Police however due chiefdom elections and an on going robbery operation the UNIPSIL was only able to train 2,423 officers. Police Officers were trained in such subjects as: Introduction and composition of Crowd Control Units, Single/Double Belt Cordon, Officer Safety/Disorder Model, Formation and Numbering Off, Close Cordon, Movement with Batons, Filter Cordon, Marching Cordon, Vehicle Drill, Containment and target Indication, Stripping and Assembly, Compromise Drill Theory/Practical and Rules Of Engagement, among others.

For further details please contact:

Rudolfo Landeros, Senior Police Adviser, UNIPSIL , landeros@un.org