The Gambia Police Force, through the Gender and Child Protection Unit, Community Policing Unit, Prosecution and Legal Affairs Unit, Cybercrime Unit, and Forensic Unit, on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, continued its proactive school and community outreach in the Lower River Region (LRR) as part of the Zero Tolerance Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) campaign.
The Day Two outreach engaged students and community members at Jappineh Upper and Senior Secondary School, Soma Upper Basic School, and the Misera community, focusing on prevention, awareness, and partnership-driven policing.
During the engagements, officers sensitised participants on community policing, child protection, sexual and gender-based violence (including child marriage), evidence preservation, and cyber safety, while emphasising early reporting and shared responsibility for community safety.
Speaking during the sessions, Corporal Foday Nyassi underscored the importance of community policing as a proactive crime-prevention mechanism, highlighting the need for strong partnerships between the Police and the community. He reminded students that safety is a shared responsibility and stressed that breaking the culture of silence builds trust and encourages timely reporting of crime.
From the Gender and Child Protection Unit, Corporal Awa J. Jallow explained the concept of gender-based violence and highlighted how women and girls can be exploited by individuals in positions of trust. She encouraged students to take their education seriously, informed them of their rights, and outlined confidential reporting channels, including the toll-free 1313 helpline, urging them to speak up against abuse.
Sub-Inspector Pa Ousman Njie of the Cybercrime Unit cautioned students on the responsible use of smartphones and social media, outlining online risks such as cyberbullying, privacy violations, scams, and the permanence of digital content. He emphasised that cybercrime presents a growing threat with serious psychological and social consequences, and encouraged responsible online behaviour.
From the Forensic Unit, ASP Jallow educated participants on the importance of preserving evidence in sexual and gender-based violence cases. He advised victims not to wash, clean clothing, or delete messages after an incident, noting that timely reporting and proper evidence handling are critical to successful investigations.
ASP Alpha Badjie of the Prosecution and Legal Affairs Unit elaborated on the legal consequences of sexual and gender-based violence, including criminal liability and penalties associated with offences such as rape, child marriage, and unwanted sexual advances. He stressed the importance of prompt reporting to ensure effective prosecution of offenders.
Officers from the Soma Police Station, Inspector Camara and Cadet Inspector Secka, reiterated the importance of police–community collaboration in effective crime prevention, calling on community members to work closely with the Police to maintain safety and security.
The Alkalo of the community commended the Gambia Police Force for the initiative and described the collaboration between the Police and the community as a necessity that should be sustained to enhance public safety.
The Gambia Police Force reiterates its commitment to protecting children, promoting safer learning environments, and strengthening partnerships with schools and communities nationwide, as the Zero Tolerance Against Gender-Based Violence campaign continues.
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