A newly constructed Professional Standards Building at the Liberian National Police headquarters in Monrovia was handed over on 20 September. The US$25,000 facility constructed through UNMIL’s Quick Impact Projects, is intended to serve as a clearinghouse to process information, feedback and complaints from the public about performance, including instances of police misconduct. The facility will serve as a safe centre where members of the public can provide information for necessary corrective measures by LNP authorities. 

UNPOL Commissioner John Nielsen said six years back UNMIL conceived the reestablishment and development of LNP’s Professional Standards Division (PSD) to provide safe access to members of the public to make complains against police misconduct as well as professional behaviours. Nielsen said the establishment and subsequent handover of the facility is an achievement by all. “It is absolutely crucial for LNP’s ability to discipline and monitor itself in order to gain the public’s trust and confidence,” he said.

Nielsen praised LNP Inspector-General Chris Massaquoi for continually encouraging LNP officers to remain professional in order to gain public trust. 

For his part, Deputy Inspector General for Operations Abraham Kromah who represented Inspector General Chris Massaquoi said the facility will “aid police in strengthening the rule of law in Liberia.”  Kromah said PSD is a “balancing arm and conduit between members of the public and LNP.”  He encouraged members of the public to utilize the facility by providing LNP with information about police conduct to help members of the police make “introspective evaluation of police personnel.”

Kromah said reduction of crimes was LNP’s first priority, and the next priority is ensuring police accountability and vigilant monitoring of police misconduct. 

Kromah thanked UNMIL for the facility which was constructed by a Liberian company Modern Construction and Contractors Services at the cost of US$25,000. The government of United States of America provided the furniture for the facility.