By Hassan Osman Kargbo
The Campaign for Human Rights and Development International (CHRDI), a prominent civil society organization in Sierra Leone, has sounded the alarm over the deteriorating conditions in police detention facilities in Freetown. During a monitoring visit on August 1, 2025, CHRDI’s human rights monitors inspected eight police stations and engaged with 192 detainees, including 177 males and 15 females. Their findings reveal severe violations of detainees’ rights and pressing concerns about their health, safety, and access to justice.
According to CHRDI, the conditions in several detention centers pose significant risks to detainees’ well-being. At the Congo Cross Police Station, female detainees reportedly endure extremely poor conditions, often forced to sleep on cardboard boxes due to the absence of proper bedding. Sanitation facilities were described as deplorable, with inadequate hygiene and limited access to clean water.
Medical neglect emerged as another pressing concern. CHRDI reported that detainees at the Lumley and Adelaide Street police stations have raised complaints about untreated medical issues. The absence of timely medical care not only endangers detainees’ health but also underscores systemic lapses within the detention management process.
The organization further highlighted alarming delays in legal procedures. Of the 192 suspects interviewed, 63 were found to be held beyond the legal time limit for detention. This situation underscores what CHRDI described as “poor coordination between the police and other criminal justice institutions,” resulting in prolonged and unlawful detentions. Only 21 suspects were formally charged during the visit, while five were released, raising serious concerns about the efficiency and fairness of the judicial process.
“These findings indicate a troubling lack of adherence to due process and respect for fundamental human rights,” CHRDI stated. “The continued detention of suspects beyond the legal time limit is a clear violation of their rights and calls for urgent intervention by the relevant authorities.”
The report also pointed to systemic issues within the country’s criminal justice system, urging reforms to ensure better coordination between the police, judiciary, and correctional services. CHRDI emphasized that such reforms are critical in preventing human rights abuses and restoring public confidence in law enforcement and judicial institutions.
The organization has called on the government, law enforcement agencies, and stakeholders in the justice sector to take immediate action to improve detention conditions, provide adequate medical care, and uphold detainees’ legal rights. They stressed that the treatment of individuals in custody must align with both national laws and international human rights standards.
CHRDI’s revelations have sparked renewed calls for accountability and systemic change. As the country continues to grapple with broader justice sector challenges, human rights advocates insist that protecting detainees’ rights should remain a top priority. Failure to act, they warn, will further erode public trust in Sierra Leone’s justice system.
The organization’s findings serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need for comprehensive reforms to safeguard the dignity and rights of detainees, while ensuring that law enforcement practices comply with legal and ethical obligations.
