By Ajoke M.A Afolabi
The Independent Police Complaint Board (IPCB) is pursuing a transformation into a fully-fledged Independent Policing Oversight Commission, its Executive Secretary, Rashid Kabba, has Revealed, describing the move as part of a broader effort to Strengthen police accountability in Sierra Leone.
Tracing the origins of the Board, Kabba explained that the IPCB derives its legal authority from Section 158 of the 1991 Constitution, which empowers the Police Council to establish regulations for police oversight. Representing the IPCB Chairman, Saa Kpulun, Kabba released the report on Tuesday, 1st September 2026, at the Miatta Civic Centre in Freetown, during the Ministry of Information and Civic Education’s Weekly Press Conference, held under the theme “Fire Force, Correctional Service and the Police: What Is Being Done to Improve Citizens’ Experiences?” The event was hosted by the Minister of Information and Civic Education, Hon. Chernor Bah.
He noted that the Board began operations between 2016 and 2017, following regulations the Police Council itself had developed, and that its establishment was influenced by a directive from the African Union, through the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, calling on African states to create independent oversight mechanisms for their police services.
He elaborated that although the IPCB traces its authority to the Police Council, it does not operate as a component of the Council today. Instead, he said, the Board now performs what he described as “delegated functions,” carrying out its work independently while remaining anchored in the founding legislation.
Kabba outlined the Board’s structure, explaining that its work is convened through specialized committees, including a Committee on Complaint Handling, a Committee on Investigations, and a Committee on Communications. He said this structure allows every complaint received from the public to be properly assessed rather than dismissed prematurely, noting that each case passes through the board and its subcommittees for careful review before any conclusions are drawn.
He further explained that the IPCB operates under two broad mandates, an investigative mandate and an oversight mandate. Under the investigative mandate, he said, the Board is responsible for investigating deaths of persons in police custody, fatal accidents involving police action, and matters involving officers of the rank of lieutenant or higher. He clarified that police custody is not limited to formal detention facilities, explaining that any situation in which an individual is under police control or supervision falls within that definition.
Kabba distinguished the IPCB from the Complaint, Discipline and Internal Investigations Department (CDIID), describing the CDIID as the internal accountability mechanism of the Sierra Leone Police, while the IPCB functions as the external, independent body to which members of the public may bring complaints. He noted, however, that the two institutions collaborate on certain matters, particularly minor disciplinary cases that can be resolved quickly, while more serious matters are handled independently by the Board.
On the oversight side of its mandate, Kabba said the Board also plays an advisory role to the police, working to strengthen professional standards and encourage restraint in the use of force, including guidance on the appropriate handling of arrests and resistance during arrest. He stressed the importance of citizens understanding their rights during encounters with police, encouraging the public to comply with lawful instructions during an arrest, while also holding officers accountable to due process.
Kabba also spoke on community engagement, noting that the Board works with citizens, particularly those in conflict with the law, to strengthen public trust and cooperation with police institutions.
Reflecting on the Board’s current legal framework, Kabba explained that the regulations under which the IPCB has operated since 2014 have remained largely unchanged, prompting a review process aimed at expanding its powers and mandate. He said the Board has studied approaches taken by oversight institutions in other countries, including Kenya, Liberia, and South Africa, to inform recommendations for reform in Sierra Leone, while stressing that any changes would need to reflect the country’s own institutional context rather than being copied wholesale.
He disclosed that extensive consultations, including engagement with police institutions such as the Metropolitan Police and senior police leadership, informed proposals to transform the IPCB into an Independent Policing Oversight Commission. According to Kabba, the proposal has since been forwarded to the Minister of Internal Affairs and considered by Cabinet, which approved a Management and Functional Review to guide the institution’s transformation.
On the Board’s recent casework, Kabba disclosed that the IPCB has received 91 complaints from members of the public since January this year, including a case connected to a police shooting incident in Kailahun.