The Liberian National Police force has struggled since the civil crisis from 1990-2005 due to a collapsed justice system. While the force has been reorganized with UN assistance to around 4,000 personnel, it still faces challenges like questionable recruitment practices, logistical issues, and salary problems that influence its ability to properly dispense justice. Reports indicate entrenched corruption has led to arbitrary arrests, torture, denial of rights, and delays in justice. Specific examples are given of police brutality incidents. Moving forward, reforms are needed to rebuild the police force's post-war values through better support, recruitment, and ensuring speedy trials to restore the criminal justice system.

1. Globalisation, Crime & Justice
Victor T.K. Morris
Cand. MA, Sociology of Law
IISL
Onati, Spain
January 11, 2016

2. Police Brutality in Liberia
The Role of the Liberia National Police in Liberia’s Justice System

3. BACKGROUND
❖ Collapsed Justice system due to civil crisis(1990- 2005)
❖ Re-organization by the UN and other bodies and Institutions
❖ Current strength aprox. 4,000 personnels with technical support from UNPOL
(separated into regular 80% (PSU and ERU 20%)
❖
❖ Five structural regions( National security presence)
❖
❖ Questionable Recruitment ( Integrity and Moral issues)
❖
❖ Logistical Challenges( Transportation, Communication and Equipments)
❖
❖ Salary Issues

4. Factors influencing the dispense of Justice
State Capture and Malpractices:
● Entrenched corruption that has resulted to extortion
(Human Rights Watch 2013 Report on Liberia- JUSTICE ON SALE)
> Arbitrary arrest common placed
> Impersonation
> Show of Force Internally ( The EPS and LNP Clash)

5. The Dispense of Justice
> Absence of state’s presence in rural areas leads to Trial by Ordeal
> Denial of Access to rights( to counsel , esp. for indigents), arrests without
warrants
> Feminist advocacy through the courts( 1st Degree Rape, Murder, Armed Robbery
and Treason)
> Delayed submission of Reports from the Police Standard Division
> Reported cases of torture in some prisons around the country
> Delayed Trials with no cause

6. PROVEN SCENARIOS
Date Incident Place
Oct. 3,2006 suspect of robbery genital torched Monrovia
June 9,’07; March ‘11 Journalist brutalised for covering students Monrovia
Solidarity Demonstration
Jan. ‘08 Two police officers were indicted for Monrovia
torturing suspect in prison
Feb. 27, ‘10 Police shoots and kill civilian in personal dispute Monrovia
Nov. 7, ‘11 Police clash with opposition party supporters leading Monrovia
deaths and injuries
Jan. 9, 2016 The LNP and EPS Clash at the Justice Ministry Monrovia

7. Show of force
Col. Frank NyenkanInspector Chris Massaquoi

8. Siaka Kromah(11 Yrs.) was a victim of
the West Point saga in Monrovia. His
shooting and subsequent death led to
the exposure of government’s inability
to handle the situation and the
emergence of a young advocate
( Abraham Keita,aged 17) who won the
Children’s Peace Prize in 2015
The
Siaka
Kromah
Factor

9. > The Police must regain its post-war values and
the need for logistical and technical support at all
levels for the restoration of the criminal Justice
system.
> Court’s role in the process is key( Speedy trial)
> State approach to recruitment has to be robust
to create more attractions
The way Forward

10. Thank you !
Questions
And
Answers