The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Alpha Sesay ESQ, today, 10th of June 2025, during the parliament setting, laid in Parliament “The Criminal Procedure Act (Commencement) Regulations, 2025.”

The Criminal Procedure Act (Commencement) Regulations, 2025 have been laid in parliament today. According to the Minister of Justice, he said With, the commencement date for the new Criminal Procedure Act (2024) has been set for the start of the next criminal session- September 16, 2025, thus replacing the colonial era Criminal Procedure Act, 1965.

He further added that, with this, “we are reforming our criminal justice system, making it more responsive to people’s needs.’’

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The new Act will shorten the time for criminal trials, provide for alternative & suspended sentencing for certain offenses, strengthen witness protection, & bring our justice system in line with human rights standards. He explained.

Finally, the Criminal Procedure Act regulations 2025, when passed into law, will replace the Criminal Procedure Act, 1965. As the Minister of Justice has stated, this bill is very timely as it will reform the criminal justice system of Sierra Leone.

As it is set to amend sections of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1965:

provide for alternative & suspended sentencing for certain offenses

Strengthen witness protection, & bring our justice system in line with human rights standards and many more.