Enhancing Protection Of Women & Children… SLP & UNICEF Train 100 FSU Officers
Freetown, Sierra Leone, 8 May 2026 –
The Sierra Leone Police (SLP) Family Support Unit (FSU), with support from UNICEF, has successfully concluded a five-day specialised training programme aimed at enhancing the investigative capacity of one hundred Family Support Unit personnel drawn from Bo, Freetown, and Makeni.
The UNICEF-sponsored training brought together sixty male officers and forty female officers in a gender-sensitive learning environment designed to strengthen the operational and investigative skills of officers handling Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), child abuse, domestic violence, and other family-related offences.
The initiative forms part of the ongoing reform agenda of the Sierra Leone Police under the leadership of the Inspector General of Police, geared towards improving professionalism and effective service delivery, as the institution continues its transition from a “Force” to a “Service.” The programme also reflects UNICEF’s continued commitment to supporting child protection initiatives and strengthening gender justice systems in Sierra Leone.
During the intensive training, participants received both theoretical and practical instruction in crime scene management, evidence preservation, chain of custody procedures, statement taking, case file preparation, cyber-related investigations, confidentiality, ethics, and survivor-centred approaches to handling sensitive cases involving women and children.
Participants were further engaged in practical simulations, scenario-based exercises, and interactive discussions aimed at improving investigative competence, professionalism, and victim-support mechanisms within the Family Support Unit.
Senior police commanders who addressed participants at the various training centres in Bo, Freetown, and Makeni described the programme as timely and impactful, noting that the Family Support Unit continues to play a pivotal role in combating Sexual and Gender-Based Violence and protecting vulnerable persons across the country.
Police leadership emphasised that equipping officers with modern investigative skills and victim-friendly approaches remains vital in promoting justice, strengthening public confidence, and improving the protection of women and children nationwide.
The Sierra Leone Police leadership also expressed profound appreciation to UNICEF for its continued partnership and unwavering support in building the capacity of Family Support Unit personnel across the country. According to the leadership, the collaboration continues to contribute significantly towards strengthening professionalism, accountability, and effective policing services within the Unit.
Participants who successfully completed the training expressed gratitude to UNICEF and the Sierra Leone Police management for the opportunity to benefit from the comprehensive programme. They noted that the knowledge and practical skills acquired would greatly enhance their effectiveness in conducting investigations and supporting survivors within their respective jurisdictions.
The successful completion of the training in Bo, Freetown, and Makeni marks another important milestone in the ongoing reform and capacity-building efforts of the Sierra Leone Police, particularly within the Family Support Unit, as the Head of Unit, Mr Mohamed S.Y. Mansaray, continues to strengthen the Unit’s response to Sexual and Gender-Based Violence and enhance the protection of women and children throughout Sierra Leone.
SLP Media Team
