Sierra Leone — May 9, 2026: The Campaign for Human Rights and Development International (CHRDI) has released alarming findings from its independent monitoring of 15 police stations and posts across Freetown, revealing widespread violations of statutory detention limits and systemic failures in access to justice.
The monitoring exercise, conducted on April 28, May 5, and May 7, 2026, assessed the legal status and demographics of 953 detainees.
Key Findings
• Over Detention: 495 suspects (52%) were held beyond statutory time limits.
• CID Violations: The Criminal Investigations Department recorded the highest breaches, with 144 suspects detained unlawfully.
• Facility Bottlenecks: Lumley (45), Aberdeen (38), and Kissy Barracks (36) also reported high levels of over detention.
• Legal Representation Crisis: Over 900 detainees lacked access to legal counsel, exposing them to arbitrary detention and coerced statements.
• Depressed Processing Rates: Only 42 suspects were released on bail and 55 charged in court during the monitoring period. Several facilities recorded zero bail releases or court charges.
• Demographic Concentration: The majority of detainees were aged 18–35, with men comprising 93% of the population.
• Juvenile Law Violations: Minors were found in adult detention areas across 11 facilities, with Kissy Barracks holding 13 juveniles.
Documented Procedural Failures
• Central Police Station: A suspect detained for four days over a civil debt of Le 365 without bail or charge.
• Ross Road Police Station: Three murder suspects held for 25–29 days despite being formally charged.
• Sexual Penetration Case: A suspect confined for 46 days awaiting advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions.
• Cross Border Case at CID: A suspect detained for 76 days due to delays involving Guinean authorities and INTERPOL.
CHRDI’s Call to Action
CHRDI Chief Executive Abdul M. Fatoma described the findings as a “systemic failure that undermines the rule of law and erodes public trust.” He urged immediate reforms to restore compliance, protect detainees’ rights, and ensure accountability.
“Every individual entering our justice system is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Yet these findings reveal a deeply alarming reality—hundreds of people are languishing in detention without access to legal representation or due process,” Fatoma stated.
About CHRDI
CHRDI is a rights based social policy advocacy organization with Special Consultative Status at the United Nations Economic and Social Council and accreditation to multiple UCHRDI Data Reveals Crisis in Freetown Police Facilities
By Sallieu S. Kanu
Sierra Leone — May 9, 2026: The Campaign for Human Rights and Development International (CHRDI) has released alarming findings from its independent monitoring of 15 police stations and posts across Freetown, revealing widespread violations of statutory detention limits and systemic failures in access to justice.
The monitoring exercise, conducted on April 28, May 5, and May 7, 2026, assessed the legal status and demographics of 953 detainees.
Key Findings
• Over Detention: 495 suspects (52%) were held beyond statutory time limits.
• CID Violations: The Criminal Investigations Department recorded the highest breaches, with 144 suspects detained unlawfully.
• Facility Bottlenecks: Lumley (45), Aberdeen (38), and Kissy Barracks (36) also reported high levels of over detention.
• Legal Representation Crisis: Over 900 detainees lacked access to legal counsel, exposing them to arbitrary detention and coerced statements.
• Depressed Processing Rates: Only 42 suspects were released on bail and 55 charged in court during the monitoring period. Several facilities recorded zero bail releases or court charges.
• Demographic Concentration: The majority of detainees were aged 18–35, with men comprising 93% of the population.
• Juvenile Law Violations: Minors were found in adult detention areas across 11 facilities, with Kissy Barracks holding 13 juveniles.
Documented Procedural Failures
• Central Police Station: A suspect detained for four days over a civil debt of Le 365 without bail or charge.
• Ross Road Police Station: Three murder suspects held for 25–29 days despite being formally charged.
• Sexual Penetration Case: A suspect confined for 46 days awaiting advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions.
• Cross Border Case at CID: A suspect detained for 76 days due to delays involving Guinean authorities and INTERPOL.
CHRDI’s Call to Action
CHRDI Chief Executive Abdul M. Fatoma described the findings as a “systemic failure that undermines the rule of law and erodes public trust.” He urged immediate reforms to restore compliance, protect detainees’ rights, and ensure accountability.
“Every individual entering our justice system is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Yet these findings reveal a deeply alarming reality—hundreds of people are languishing in detention without access to legal representation or due process,” Fatoma stated.
About CHRDI
CHRDI is a rights based social policy advocacy organization with Special Consultative Status at the United Nations Economic and Social Council and accreditation to multiple UN agencies since 2015.N agencies since 2015.
