The inspector general of police (IGP), Ensa Badjie has said that the police have realised that they cannot work in isolation and called for partnership with the civil community in order to ensure a crime-free Gambia.

IGP Badjie made these remarks, yesterday, during a presentation of 55 mattresses worth at least D141,250, by the National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDEA) to the Gambia Police Force (GPF). The mattresses were earmarked for the personnel of the Police Intervention Unit (PIU) in Fatoto.

IGP Badjie said the NDEA has never hesitated  to respond to their requests, as they are close partners in the fight against drug trafficking and other related matters.

"They  have always endeavoured to collaborate [with us] so as to combat drug trafficking and related problems in our society. This is manifested in the joint operations we conduct together at various Police stations and locations throughout the Gambia. I can assure you that this partnership has been further strengthened in recent times," he said.

The IGP  thanked the NDEA boss and his staff for the donation, describing it as timely and worthy of emulation.

For his part, Ebrahim Bun Sanneh, the executive director of the NDEA, said the gesture demonstrates their unflinching support to the country's police force.

According to the NDEA Boss, agents of the NDEA are bound to operate under the ambit of the police, wherever the GPF is housed. He said that he always informs his personnel that they are always answerable to the chain of command of the GPF, adding that they should always obey and comply with the instructions, as long as they are lawful. "I want to call on my personnel to give due respect to the service in the country," he said.

Speaking earlier, FRI Jammeh, the police adviser, commended NDEA for their generous gesture and recalled that the NDEA was part of the police establishment before it was transferred as an independent body. Notwithstanding this, Mr Jammeh said the NDEA is still part of the police force.

The ceremony was attended by the deputy IGP, Modou Gaye, Karamo Bojang, the deputy executive director of the NDEA, and service  chiefs, among others. Briam Mbaye of the PIU, gave the vote of thanks.