Visiting Aberdeen and Lumley Beaches this festive season promises to be a very different experience from previous ones. The Sierra Leone Police have installed a new network of CCTV cameras across key sections of the coastline in a bid to strengthen public safety during one of the busiest periods of the year.
The initiative, led by Inspector General of Police William Fayia Sellu, covers major entry points, car parks, and the stretch of beach where thousands of people gather for music shows, family outings, nightlife events, and Christmas–New Year celebrations. Officers will have access to real-time visual feeds, giving them the ability to respond more quickly to emergencies, suspicious activity, and overcrowded areas.
For many residents and business owners who rely on the festive season for income, the move has brought a sense of relief. Aberdeen and Lumley have long served as the centre of holiday entertainment in Freetown, yet concerns about theft, disorder, and road congestion often shadow the excitement. The presence of cameras, they say, adds an extra layer of assurance that authorities are paying close attention to the safety of both locals and visitors.
Restaurant owners, beach bar operators, and event organizers have expressed optimism that the system will help prevent the kind of incidents that sometimes dampen celebrations. Several noted that the Police stepped up foot patrols last year and that combining that effort with 24-hour digital monitoring can only strengthen the atmosphere of security.
Residents are equally hopeful. With large crowds expected from across the country and abroad, many people see the new cameras as a step toward building a more modern and accountable approach to policing. The cameras also give families confidence to bring children and enjoy the coastline without fear of avoidable disturbances.
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As the holiday season draws near, preparations in all the beachside communities are underway. The new surveillance network is among the most visible measures yet taken to indicate the Police’s resolve that the festive period would be remembered for celebration and not crisis. With Christmas around the corner, authorities and the public look forward to some lively but safer nights along Sierra Leone’s most famous beachfront.
