Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. The Family Support Unit (FSU) of the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) commenced a comprehensive review of the national Age Assessment Guidelines, a document first developed in 2010 and unchanged for over a decade.
The session was held at the Sierra Leone Peacekeeping and Law Enforcement Academy (SILEA), brought together personnel from various units of the SLP to collaborate with FSU officers in updating the guidelines to reflect current realities in child protection and law enforcement.
Head of the FSU, Superintendent Mohamed S. Mansaray confirmed that the initiative has the full support of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. William Fayia Sellu. He underscored the importance of the exercise, noting that the revised guidelines will enhance how children in conflict or contact with the law are treated, ensuring that respect, professionalism, and adherence to best practices remain paramount.
Furthermore, Superintendent Mansaray explained that officers outside the FSU were intentionally included to enrich the document with diverse expertise. He emphasised that any police officer may be the first point of contact for a child in conflict with the law; therefore, they must be able to make informed preliminary assessments of age.
“Officers from across the rank and file of the organisation are participating to ensure the final document provides clear, practical, and reliable steps for determining a child’s age,” he stated.
He added that FSU personnel will continue to align their work with both national and international standards to ensure age determination challenges are minimised when cases reach court.
Delivering the keynote address, the Director of Training at SILEA, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Joe Kamanda Bongay, expressed confidence in the value of the review, describing it as essential to accurately determining the age of children, whether victims or offenders.
He commended the FSU for its “remarkable strides” in managing sensitive cases over the years. However, he noted that evolving social and legal dynamics requires continuous improvements to meet international best practices.
“The review exercise will give FSU personnel the opportunity to enhance investigative processes, harmonise their approaches, and ensure every officer handling SGBV cases is guided by clear and sound legal principles of age assessment,” ACP Bongay said.
He acknowledged the contributions of government ministries, NGOs, and international partners for their sustained support to the SLP, especially the FSU. ACP Bongay urged participants to engage fully in the review process and reaffirm their commitment to strengthening child protection and gender justice in Sierra Leone.
“Together, we can ensure the FSU remains a beacon of professionalism, compassion, and justice for all,” he concluded.
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