Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr William Fayia Sellu, has welcomed a proposal for closer collaboration between the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) and the newly established Association of Private Security Companies in Sierra Leone (APSC-SL). The IGP made the commitment during a courtesy meeting with the executive of APSC-SL, who formally introduced the association and sought the SLP’s attestation, guidance and collaboration. Addressing the APSC-SL executives, IGP Sellu welcomed the initiative, noting that it had taken considerable time for private security companies to come together under a single umbrella. He said he had been concerned about the status and operations of private security companies and disclosed that discussions concerning the sector had been taking place at the national level. The IGP acknowledged the challenges involved in managing private security companies, particularly because their sustainability largely depends on the number of clients they are able to secure. He therefore commended the companies for coming together under APSC-SL, saying that a unified association would give them greater strength and an organised platform to address common challenges.
IGP Sellu assured the executives that the Sierra Leone Police was ready to collaborate with the association whenever necessary. He cited the SLP’s recent training engagements with other security related institutions, including the Metropolitan Police, Port and Harbour Authority and the Immigration Department, as examples of the Police’s willingness to share expertise and build the capacity of partner institutions. The IGP also offered training support to APSC-SL, particularly for personnel who may have little or no experience of regimental life. “If you want training to capacitate them, we can deliver it to help you,” IGP Sellu told the executives. He noted that the fact that the companies are registered with the Government means they constitute legal entities and should therefore operate within the established regulatory framework. IGP Sellu stressed that the police could not be everywhere at the same time, making cooperation with legitimate private security companies important in strengthening the protection of lives and property. He, however, drew attention to some of the challenges facing private security companies, including the fact that they do not have the authority to carry firearms.
He observed that many clients increasingly demand armed security services and encouraged APSC-SL members to explore other areas within their legal mandate where they could effectively provide security services without contravening the law. The IGP reaffirmed the SLP’s commitment to working with APSC-SL, stressing that a properly regulated private security sector could complement police efforts and contribute significantly to national security. Earlier, the APSC-SL executives, in their statement to the IGP, said they were ready to abide by the guidance and directives of the Sierra Leone Police and expressed appreciation for the opportunity to establish a working relationship with the country’s lead law enforcement institution. According to the association, all licensed private security companies in Sierra Leone have now come together under one umbrella body, APSC-SL, following the completion of its internal organisational arrangements. The association disclosed that it is preparing for its official launch ceremony scheduled for 28 November 2026.
The executives told IGP Sellu that the purpose of the association is not to compete with the police but to become a disciplined, regulated and credible partner in national security. They acknowledged the SLP as a key institution and partner in national security, noting that private security companies cannot operate effectively in isolation. They further expressed the view that, with proper regulation, supervision and guidance, the private security industry could complement the efforts of the police in protecting lives and property. The association also stated that its objective is to support efforts to sanitise the private security industry, enforce standards and ensure that only qualified and law-abiding companies operate within the sector. The executives include Ibrahim Fofanah, Chairman, Alpha ML Alghali organising secretary, Ibrahim H Kamara Secretary general, and Joseph N Kabba Auditor The proposed partnership is expected to strengthen cooperation between the SLP and private security companies while promoting professionalism, regulation, training and improved protection of lives and property across Sierra Leone.
