What you should know
A4A's guidance recognises the importance of documenting interactions with law-enforcement officers. Recording activity taking place in public can raise questions involving freedom of expression, privacy, evidence and public-order law.
If you record an interaction, do not physically obstruct an officer, interfere with an investigation, cross a lawful restricted area or place yourself or another person at risk. Preserve the original recording and avoid editing material that may later be relevant evidence.
The precise scope of any right to record, and any lawful restriction that may apply, depends on the circumstances and applicable Sierra Leonean law. If an officer directs you to stop recording, delete material or surrender a device and you are unsure of the legal basis, remain calm and seek legal advice about the incident.
Legal rights and available remedies depend on the facts of each situation. Contact A4A if you need advice about how the law applies to you.
When to seek help
If you are unsure how the law applies to your circumstances, if your rights may have been infringed, or if you have been arrested, detained, threatened or placed at immediate risk, seek legal assistance.
Legal reference points
- Constitution of Sierra Leone, 1991
- Applicable criminal-procedure, privacy and public-order law
For Sierra Leone legislation, judgments and other primary legal materials, use an authoritative source such as SierraLII. The legislation that applies to an individual matter may change or depend on the facts.
Visit SierraLII