The Inspector-General (IG) of Police Francis Munu has disclosed that from now on, any person who commits a crime, will be remanded in prison until after the General Elections.
He warned that this would deprive troublemakers from voting and their candidates from winning.
The Inspector-General of Police said the police is now poised to ensure that they provide adequate security during the electoral process, adding that it is an offence for anyone to hang around polling stations during the November 17 polls.
He made this statement during a one- day national dialogue conference on youth engagement and empowerment for active community engagement during the 2012 electoral process in Sierra Leone, organized by Centre for Coordination of Youth Activities (CCYA) in collaboration with Youth Action Network, with support from Action Aid International Sierra Leone, Open Government Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) and United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
The programme was held at the Atlantic Hall, National Stadium on November 9 and participants were drawn from the 14 districts.
IG Munu while addressing the youths at the conference, said election is for responsible people who have reached the voting age and must have registered adding that the election has rules and anyone who involves in violence, perpetrate or violate the election rules will be prosecuted and convicted.
He said young people are very important in the electoral process, warning that they should not be involved in violence because if anyone is caught perpetrating violence, then the person will be charged with a criminal offence and that will have a negative effect on their future. He explained that if in the future, they want to a get a job or want to take part in any democratic process, the police records will stop those individuals because of their criminal records.
I G Munu advised young people to enter the polling station with a ‘clear sense of knowledge.’
Commissioner Miatta French from the National Electoral Commission (NEC) in her keynote address said the whole process and those involved in the activities of NEC are mostly youths, stating that youths are paramount to the electoral process.
She advised youths to stay out of violence and make a choice of relevance.
Commissioner French cited the just- concluded United States of American Election, where she urged youths to follow the good example of their electoral process.
By Emmanuella Kallon
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