…to combat crime and lawlessness
December 11, 2015 By Memunatu Bangura
In a bid to ensuring peaceful yuletide celebrations, the Sierra Leone Police has introduced operation ‘Working with community Against Indiscipline and Lawlessness (WAIL).
Director of Police Operations, Assistant Inspector General (AIG) Al-Sheik Kamara, told newsmen yesterday that the operation would target communities to reduce loud music and noise in pubs and liquor bars, and neutralise cliques and pick-pocketers, as well as clamp down on those who use unregistered vehicles.
He said ‘Operation WAIL’ would be targeting those who violate the Liquor Licenses Act, as bars should not play loud music to the annoyance of others.
AIG Kamara said vehicles with Temporal Registered Vehicles (TVR), garage number plates, and unregistered vehicles should not ply the streets of Freetown after 6pm, adding that saloon bars and liquor bars should close at 11pm.
He said the police are working with communities to ensure peaceful celebrations this Christmas within the ambit of the law and that revelers do not interfere with the rights of other people.
He said that in order to guarantee peace, safety and security in communities, the police are reminding residents that section 13 of the Public Order Act of 1965 makes it unlawful for any person or group of persons to sound or play loud music or noisy instrument or shout, sing or make any other loud noise after 10pm in communities to the annoyance or disturbance of others, while section 14 of the same Act states that it is unlawful for any person or group of people to engage in any street procession or street carnival without the written permission of the Inspection General of Police.
He noted that people are in the habit to mounting loud speakers in communities to play loud music, throwing of fireworks, rockets and missiles, thus causing injury and annoyance to other in the community, which is against the laws of the country.
“We see people blasting bangers that are very explosive, we know people want to enjoy but we should also be aware about the fact that there are laws governing noise causing in the country so we must enjoy within the ambit of the laws,” he warned.