By Sallieu S. Kanu
March 2026: The Sierra Leone Police (SLP) have reported a slight increase in crime nationwide in 2025, according to its latest Annual Crime Report. The findings highlight trends in criminal activity and road traffic offences, providing guidance for policing strategies, policy formulation, and crime prevention initiatives.
National Crime Statistics
- 2025: 34,066 offences recorded, representing a crime rate of 0.38%.
- 2024: 29,874 offences recorded, representing a crime rate of 0.33%.
- 2023: 27,451 offences recorded, representing a crime rate of 0.31%.
The figures show a steady upward trend, with crime increasing by 0.05 percentage points between 2024 and 2025, and by 0.07 percentage points since 2023.
Regional Breakdown
Crime incidents remained concentrated in urban and semi-urban areas, particularly the Western Area, which accounted for 59% of all reported cases in 2025.
- Freetown East: 11,603 cases (34.1% of total crimes).
- Freetown West: 8,487 cases (24.9%).
- Eastern Region: 4,249 cases.
- North West Region: 2,613 cases (lowest).
Population-adjusted analysis revealed stark disparities: the Western Area recorded 1,049 crimes per 100,000 people, far above the national average of 375 crimes per 100,000 population.
Crime Categories (2025)
- Offences Against Women and Children: 15,188 cases (44.6%).
- Offences Against Property: 6,848 cases (20.1%).
- Economic Offences: 4,469 cases (13.1%).
- Offences Against the Person: 3,956 cases (11.6%).
- Road Traffic Accidents: 2,071 cases (6.1%).
Violent crimes showed a sharp rise, accounting for 44% of all reported crimes in 2025, compared to 34% in 2024.
Police Response
The SLP emphasized that the findings will inform targeted policing strategies, particularly in crime hotspots such as Freetown. Authorities underscored the importance of community cooperation and stronger law enforcement efforts to address the rising trend of violent crime and protect vulnerable groups, especially women and children.