Deputy Head of Media and Public Relations, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Samuel Saio Conteh has told Awoko newspaper that the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) toll free line receives about 2,000 calls from residents across Freetown each day. The toll free line was set up by the SLP to respond to distress calls from residents across Freetown aimed at reducing the menace of armed robberies, which the police say is on the increase and needs urgent attention.
ASP Conteh said the revamping of the toll free line (112) was informed by the current spate of armed robberies; though he was not helpful with statistics, he maintained they are on the increase and therefore beckon for urgent attention. ‘Adama’ said she was recently attacked and held under gunpoint in her residence after she called the toll free line for several minutes before the alleged armed robbers broke and entered her premises.
“The robbers wrestled me to the ground and made away with all the money I had, in spite of the several phone calls I made to 112,” she alleged. However, ASP Conteh disclosed that there are penalties for on duty police officers who ignore their duties when a distress call comes in.
“Police officers at the facility are working by shift, and whosoever that may be on shift when a distress call comes in and did not do the needful will be punished accordingly,” he said.
By Sulaiman Karim Sesay