The release referred to six laws of Sierra Leone that would help guide and restrain citizens from going overboard.
Here is the full text of the IG’s presser:
The festive season is here again and the Sierra Leone Police wishes to assure the general public about their readiness to ensure that the yuletide is observed in peace, safety and security. This cannot, however, be achieved without the cooperation of all and sundry.
Therefore, in order to guarantee your own peace, safety and security and that of others, the Sierra Leone Police would like you to observe the law, and to pay particular attention to the following:
1. It is 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 10 p.m. in communities to the annoyance or disturbance of others (Section 13 of the Public Order Act of 1965).
2. It is unlawful for any person or group of persons to engage in any street procession or street carnival without the written permission of the Inspector General of Police (Section 13 of the Public Order Act of 1965).
3. It is unlawful for any person to fire any gun or throw any firework, rocket or missile to the injury or annoyance of others (Section 6 of the Public Order Act of 1965).
4. Saloon bars are reminded that their official hour of closing is 11:00 p.m. (Section 27 of Cap 238 of the Liquor Licensing Ordinance). The Police would be obliged to enforce this closing hour where there is reasonable ground to believe that the bar’s operation is an annoyance to others within the community.
5. It is unlawful for anyone to drive whilst drunk or under the influence of alcohol (Section 102 of the Road Traffic Act of 2007).
6. It is unlawful for anyone to drive an unregistered vehicle (Section 5 of the Road Traffic Act of 2007). All vehicles with valid G-Plates or Temporal Vehicle Registration (TVR) should not ply the roads after 6:00 p.m. on all days.
The Inspector General and the rank and file of the Sierra Leone Police wish you all a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
