Sering Jobe, Alkalo of Serrekunda and former director of Gambia Utilities Cooperation (GUC) has welcomed the construction of a new police station for his community, recalling that the current structures have being in existence more than 70 years serving the community.
The retired civil servant made this remarks at the Serrekunda Police Station, where The GIZ Police Programme: Joint German-EU support to The Gambia Police Force begins the construction of four model police stations within the Greater Banjul Area (GBA).
“We wish to recall that this existing police station has been here for more than seventy (70) years, I recalled that when we were young we used to play here, so these buildings have served their purpose,” he affirmed.
“During that time,” he continued, “the whole population of KMC was about 200,000 but now the population is more than 500, 000.”
According to him, the construction of the new police station in Serrekunda is timely as the station is the busiest police station in the country, adding that it is his view that the final edifice will be put into the hands of capable and competent police officers who will take care of the structures for posterity.
The veteran civil servant also cautioned the men and women in uniform to always exercise professionalism in executing their duties, while he advised that policing is not the use of force but rather convincing people to help police the society.
He, therefore, urged the police to intensify on community policing to encourage people to come to them rather than going after them.
Dr. Marion Popp, Country Component Manager, GIZ GPF Programme disclosed that the aim of the programme is to enable Gambia Police Force become more efficient and effective in protecting the human and individual rights and security at the community level with due regards to international standards. He noted that the surest way to achieving this aims is to upgrade police stations within the country to a level that meet minimum standards of a model police station.
GIZ Programme Country Component Manager revealed the minimum standard for the construction of model police stations within the GBA was done in consultations with key stakeholders including GPF, UNDP, UNICEF and DCAF, and that the stakeholders have factored what types of buildings and facilities that are needed as well as how long the structures can last.
“There was agreement that new model police stations should have holding cells for suspects in police custody that will provide enough space, so that they fulfilled human rights standards. Women and men in police custody should keep separate cells, sanitary facilities needs to be accessible, a separate room for the child welfare unit is an important requirement to ensure children and survivors of gender based violence feel safe to report their cases,” Dr. Marion Popp, GIZ Country Component Manager explained the expected facilities in model police stations to be constructed.
She added: “A police station should also provide a conducive working environment for the police officers.”
The Country Component Manager continued that a local construction company has been contracted for new police stations within the GBA this will include Serrekunda, Bundung, Bakoteh and Brusubi Police stations.
Momodou Sowe, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) deputising for the Inspector General of Police said the construction of the edifices are long overdue, noting that the project has been ongoing since 2018, through the partnership of Gambia government, European Union, UNAIDS among others with the view to modernizing and upgrading police stations in the country.
DIG Sowe also highlighted that the European Union has been a true ally who has been helping the police to restore confidence through the security sector reform, and that EU over the time has render a lots of support to the Gambia Police Force through training and capacity building, public order management, transnational crimes anti, terrorism, traffic management, investigation among others.