Cecil Griffiths Wants Bureau of Justice Statistics Setup

-As LINLEA Ends Two Weeks Training For Law Enforcement Officers 

The President of the Liberia National Law Enforcement Association (LINLEA), Cecil Griffiths has called for the setting up of a Bureau of Justice Statistics at various law enforcement institutions in Liberia.

The bureau, he said will be charged with the responsibility of coordinating statistical activities from the court, to the prison including other law enforcement agencies of government, something he noted is key to the sector.

Griffiths acknowledged that the court has a voluminous of records in its possession, but it is not presented in a way where researchers can easily locate them.

He wants records at various law enforcement institutions in Liberia to be kept in a proper data base format using a systematic and structural approach.

The LINLEA boss pointed out that it is about time that statistical base information is well structured with the aim of providing deep analysis on statistical issues for the betterment of the sector.

He said in this new bureau if approved by the Ministry of Justice, the unit of statistics will distribute cases as per its offenses (Murder, Armed Robbery, Theft and many others) including sex and age, something he added will make it very easy for researchers to do their work effectively.

The Senior Law Enforcement lecturer said it is about time for the sector to engage into new and modern initiatives for the common good of the Country.

Griffiths speaking to reporters at the close of a two-week training for law enforcement officers said there are still visible gaps in the security sector which he noted needs to be addressed in a holistic manner and form.

The two weeks training which brought together over twenty-five participants was designed to address the gaps in the various agencies as it relates to accurate data collection and analysis.

The purpose was to additionally build the capacity of statisticians within key security agencies including: The Liberia National Police, Liberia Immigration Service, Liberia National Fire Service, Armed Forces of Liberia, Monrovia City Police and the Judiciary.

Griffiths named some of the key topics covered as: Administration with emphasis on data and information on department’s organizational structure and resources, others are Criminology& Criminal Justice, Crime Measurement and the purpose and requirement of system of criminal justice statistics and many others.

In a related development, the LINLEA has climaxed a three-day experience sharing and capacity building seminar in the Country.

The seminar was among other things intended to review and reflect on actors, issues and achievement as well as challenges relative to Liberia’s security reform agenda.

Participants at the end of the seminar thanked LINLEA for organizing such impactful training for them.

Over the three days period, they were taught on legislative advocacy, policy briefs, effective communication strategies, assessing security and Justice reform issues for consideration including legal framework of Liberia’s security sector institutions.

Meanwhile, the Liberia National Law Enforcement Association will on May 15, 2019 celebrate its 25 years of existence as a legal Civil Society body operating in the Country.

Former Chief Justice Cllr. Gloria Musu Scott will serve as keynote speaker while certificate of appreciation, participation and recognition will be presented to partners, donors and stakeholders who have assisted the institution over the period including some outstanding law enforcement officers as well as participants from the end of its May training respectively.