By Amin Kef (Ranger)
The Sierra Leone Police (SLP) has launched its annual Crime Statistics Report for the year 2023, shedding light on the trends and patterns of crime and disorder across the nation. The report, a critical tool in the SLP’s efforts to protect lives and property, provides valuable insights for law enforcement and Government agencies in deploying resources effectively, identifying criminals, and formulating crime prevention strategies.
The report covers a comprehensive analysis of crimes reported to the Police throughout Sierra Leone from January to December 2023, including major offenses such as homicide, robbery with aggravation, and robbery with violence. Additionally, it identifies various hotspots where criminal activities are concentrated.
Among key findings, in 2023 a total of 30,491 criminal and road crash cases were reported and investigated across all six Police Command Regions in Sierra Leone, resulting in an overall crime rate of 0.35%. This represents a slight reduction of 0.4% compared to the previous year.
Over the past few years, Sierra Leone has seen a consistent decrease in crime rates, positioning the country as the third most peaceful in Africa and the foremost in West Africa.
It was stated that several factors have been attributed to the decrease in crime rates that includes: Improved and sustained community engagement in crime prevention efforts, enhanced logistical support that includes patrol vehicles, better operational coordination among security agencies, strengthened inter-institutional relationships within the security and justice sectors, implementation of checkpoints at strategic locations.
The Crime Rate Analysis across different regions revealed that the Western Area (Freetown East and Freetown West) recorded the highest number of cases, accounting for 62% of reported crimes.
It was followed by the Northern Region (North East and North West) with 17% of reported cases with the Southern Region reporting 11% of cases were as the Eastern Region reported 10% of cases.
According to the Western Area is particularly susceptible to criminal activities compared to other regions in Sierra Leone.
In terms of divisional crime statistics, focusing on major offenses such as homicide, robbery with aggravation, and robbery with violence, the Family Support Unit recorded 10,063 cases in 2023, with a significant portion comprising domestic violence cases.
The report noted a decrease in traffic accident cases, with 3,953 reported in 2023 compared to 4,124 in 2022.
The Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU) investigated 269 cases, with 106 cases charged to court.
Cases of assault on Police totalled 70 in 2023 while the Anti-Land Grabbing Unit investigated 334 land cases, with 39 cases charged to court.
The unveiling of the 2023 Crime Statistics Report by the Sierra Leone Police marks a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to combat crime and maintain peace and security in the country. It is expected that the insights provided in the report will inform strategic decisions by law enforcement agencies and policymakers, ultimately contributing to a safer Sierra Leone.
