The Campaign for Human Rights and Development International (CHRDI) has raised serious concerns regarding the treatment of detainees in Freetown’s police stations following a visit to eight facilities where they spoke with 192 detainees, including 177 males and 15 females.

The organization confirmed alarming conditions that pose significant risks to the rights and well-being of those incarcerated.

At the Congo Cross police station, it was confirmed that female detainees are subjected to inadequate sleeping arrangements, often resorting to using cardboard boxes as makeshift beds.

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The sanitation facilities at this station were described as deplorable, raising further concerns about hygiene and health.

Medical care for detainees is also under scrutiny. Reports from both the Lumley and Adelaide Street stations indicated that detainees’ medical needs are frequently neglected, exacerbating their vulnerabilities while in custody.

CHRDI further noted that 63 suspects are currently being held beyond the legal time limit, pointing to a troubling lack of coordination among police and other criminal justice institutions.

During their visit, the confirmed that only 21 of the 192 detainees were formally charged, and five were released, to which they raised critical questions about the efficiency and fairness of the judicial process in Freetown.

In light of those findings, CHRDI has called for urgent reforms to ensure that the rights of all detainees are upheld.