Sierra Leone is a civilised and democratic state. As a civilised state, it employs a Police Force whose main duty is to maintain law and order at an acceptable-level throughout the country. As a democratic state, it has fitted its Police Force into the framework of its legal and social system so that, the members of the Police Force act within the principles of the Rule of Law.

The Sierra Leone Police Force has therefore a special responsibility to the Government of the day and general responsibility to the public at large.

In August 1998, the President of Sierra Leone at the time –Dr. Ahmad Tejan Kabba, published the following Policing Charter: