The wise bird could say without hesitation that the question of illegal police checkpoints in the capital city, Freetown and its environs is a perennial problem inherited by government after government.

There are well over fifty checkpoints mounted across the city from east to west every night. But of what essence, the Parrot continues to wonder.

After so long a time, it seems the authorities have realized that checkpoints in the city and other areas are very much unnecessary for peaceful citizens at night.

Recently, the Commissioner of Police North-West Regional Director Madam Zainab Othman called on the authority to take immediate action to address the issue of these illegal checkpoints.

She pointed out that the integrity of law enforcement officers is very paramount and that corruption in police has the tendency to dwindle public trust and also undermines the rule of law.

Madam Othman cited a video on social media in which a driver was expressing frustration over allegation of police officer soliciting bribes at a particular checkpoint.

She urged all officers to execute their duties and responsibilities with the highest level of integrity and professionalism at all times, warning all police officers that corruption would not be tolerated and that anyone caught will face the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

The regional head also stressed that corruption at checkpoints hampers the integrity of the state as no one ever knows the person collecting the bribe from.

It is always a common practice for the bird to go out to get the views of other people as he doesn’t know everything.

Most of those he spoke with confirmed that the question of police mounting illegal checkpoints is not a new thing in the capital and other places.

At night, peaceful citizens are at the mercy of the police because of the harassment and intimidation.

The bird is a victim of that harassment at a particular checkpoint in the city.