Monrovia – The distribution of logistics to Police depots, according to a civil society organization (CSO), remains a challenge for the Liberia National Police (LNP).
Report by Bettie K. Johnson Mbayo, [email protected]
The CSO, Open Liberia (O-Liberia), said the report is intended to reveal to the public findings of a non-academic research they commissioned to look into the logistical well-being of the LNP as part of the overall Police reform process, especially so when the nation braces itself to usher in a new political dispensation.
The report is entitled: “Stranded Law Enforcement: – Over a Decade after the Accra CPA, LNP Still A Dream Hard To Live.”
The executive director, Mr. Samukai Konneh, disclosed that they visited 32 depots in Montserrado County, but only 26 accepted to participate in the study.
Six depots refused to participate – even though they expressed appreciation for the study knowing that logistics indiscriminately affect their performances.
”The study finds that all of the functional operational logistics belonging to the LNP, including vehicles and motorbikes as well as administrative equipment and supplies such as computers, internet access, uniforms, baton, spray guns etc are all only assigned at central headquarters on Capitol Hill – leaving stations and depots completely strangulated to effectively perform – such that depots in Montserrado County are unable to respond to more than one crime reported at the same time,” Konneh said.
He continued: “As a result of this imbalance in the distribution of Police resources, 73% of respondents to the study said they are unable to respond to multiple crimes reported at the same time because they do not have any vehicle, motorbike or tricycle to move.
Seven Police Depots, including Joe Bar, New Kru Town, Gobarchop, Bong Mine Bridge, VOA, Doe Community and Logan Town, said they are capable of responding to multiple crimes at the same time – however, they do not have a vehicle, motorbike or any moving machine to facilitate such response.”
Konneh says O-Liberia established that not a single one of the depots surveyed, and those that did not participate in the study, reported receiving vehicle, motorbike, tricycle or base radios within the last three years thereby leaving their performances at the mercy of citizen who have complaints.
“That if there is an incident on Police stations similar to what happened at the Redlight station in 2015 involving motorcyclists, there is absolutely no chance of containing it by these depots; and the consequence may even be deadly during these elections period. This is because the depots lack the necessary operational logistics to respond to a reported crime, let alone prevent or contain an attack.” OL report said.
Recalling the incident at Red-light, the study reveals that the reason motorcyclists were able to set ablaze and destroy the Redlight depot was because incessant calls made to central headquarters on Capitol Hill for support did not yield any result. Calls were placed from the station itself ahead of the cyclists’ attack and from Zone 9 Base in Jacob Town for reinforcement and mobility support.
Officers interviewed said no reinforcement came because there was no vehicle ready at central to convey the officers that were on standby.
“So, neither did officers on the standby at Zone 9 Base nor those at central headquarters joined their colleagues at Redlight to prevent or repel the attack. At the time of the attack, there was no live weapon, no tear gas, no riot control gadgets at the station; and the number of officers on duty was very minimal,” Konneh disclosed.
The study also finds that Police officers have not received uniform supplies for several years – largely depending on the person spoken to.
But the timeframe ranges between two and ten years. Several officers said that they have not received any uniform from administration since their graduation 10yrs ago. Respondents say they have been purchasing their Police uniforms from the local markets.
Only Redlight container site and Bong Mine Bridge depots say they received uniform supplies about seven months ago.
Although all respondents agreed that they ought to respond to reported crimes within almost 30 minutes, it currently takes the Police up to 180 minutes or three hours – sometimes longer, to respond to a reported crime in its own neighborhood; and if the crime is reported in a location that is a little farther, it takes them several hours to respond – which they significantly attribute to the lack of operational logistics.
The study also finds out that Police officers assigned at depots do not know when they ought to receive office supplies and operational logistics – which in effect leaves rooms for doubt and suspicion.
“We gathered evidence that officers at many times abandon duty posts at certain hours of the night due to cold, lack of electricity and lack of firearms to protect themselves against potential intruders also leaving many vehicles not inspected. They also leave duty posts when it rains due to lack of raingears. However, this has improved with the provision of raingears to some officers last month,” Konneh said.
He complemented the current leadership of the Liberia National Police for the work done so far at depots.
“The lack of logistics not only demoralizes the Police force in the eyes of citizens they ought to protect, and criminals they ought to fight, it gives free ride for crimes to be perpetuated – thereby threatening governance and democracy,
Konneh says Liberia’s intent is to support the sustenance of progress made over the years; and to begin to prepare the political environment for the next dispensation, no matter the winner of the Presidential elections in a few days, that Liberia has come a long way and intends to steer clear of its horrible past.