In remarks at the signing ceremony held at the weekend at the Zone Six Police Depot in Brewerville outside Monrovia, Swedish Ambassador Lena Nordstrom said the project will also attend to basic crime investigation, crime scene investigation with a specific focus on crimes related to sexual and gender-based violence, and increase collaboration between the LNP and Prosecution Service.

According to Nordstrom, the initiative is in support of the Swedish Government’s Development Cooperation Strategy with Liberia for the next four years (2016-2-20) worth about US$158 million.

The strategy, she said, has three result areas, including human security, pro-poor growth and democracy, gender equality and greater respect for human development.

Nordstrom said Sweden has a feminist foreign policy that seeks to ensure gender equality and equal participation of men and women, adding, “It is a piece of security measure when women are given equal opportunity to be active voices in the security sector and also in the community.”

Meanwhile, the Swedish envoy has called on the Liberia National Police to ensure that security within Liberia’s borders is protected at all times, since they have a strong leadership to take over the country’s security from the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL).

“For the LNP to be successful in its national duties, they have to allow the citizens to trust them,” Ambassador Nordstrom said.

Also in remarks, Police Inspector General Gregory Coleman said the agreement marks “a very important milestone,” and pledged the LNP’s commitment to raise the officers’ professional level to meet international standards, especially in the areas of crime scene investigation, as well as sexual and gender-based violence, among others.