Inspector General of Police (IGP) General Said Chawul Lam - (Credit SSNPS)

The South Sudan National Police Service plans to establish new “statement points” across Juba to make it easier for residents to report crimes and access police services.

Inspector General of Police General Said Chawul Lom announced the initiative in an interview with Eye Radio on Friday, citing the rapid expansion of the capital and the difficulties residents face when travelling long distances to report cases.

According to General Chawul, some residents from areas such as Amadi and Checkpoint are required to travel to Kubri Habuba Police Station, while those living in Mobil near Jebel Lado must travel to Munuki Police Station to file complaints.

“With the expansion of police stations and sectors due to the growth of Juba, citizens now find it difficult to travel from Amadi or the checkpoint to the Kubri Habuba police station to report a crime, or from Mobil near Jebel Lado to the police station in Munuki, as the distance is considerable,” he said.

The Inspector General said the new statement points are intended to bring services closer to communities and simplify the reporting process.

“Therefore, we in the police have decided to open statement points,” he said. “These statement points differ from the sectors, as they connect citizens reporting crimes to the relevant stations to facilitate their movement and procedures.”

General Chawul explained that unlike existing police sectors, the statement points will have authority to receive complaints, open cases, record statements, and detain suspects before transferring cases to the appropriate police stations.

He said the initiative forms part of broader police reforms aimed at improving public access to justice and increasing efficiency in handling criminal cases.

“This is one of the police’s plans to streamline the reporting process for citizens,” he said.

The Inspector General noted that police sectors currently operating in Juba mainly serve as support units and lack powers to conduct investigations or process cases.

“The sector does not have the authority to open a case, detain, or take statements from the suspect, but rather to transfer the report to the station. This is unlike the statement points, which have these powers,” he said.

The police leadership says the new system will strengthen coordination between communities and law enforcement agencies while reducing the burden on residents seeking police services.