Post a comment 
The Campaign for Human Rights and Development International (CHRDI) has expressed deep concern over what it describes as troubling human rights violations in several police stations across Freetown, following a series of monitoring visits carried out between October 30 and November 13, 2025.
According to CHRDI, its monitoring team visited 11 police stations over the three-day exercise, engaging with 637 individuals currently held in detention and 754 others documented on police records. The organization said the visits were aimed at assessing compliance with human rights standards and understanding the realities detainees face within police custody.
In its findings, CHRDI reported widespread overcrowding in multiple police cells, with many suspects struggling for adequate space and basic comfort. Even more alarming, the organization highlighted 263 cases of alleged unlawful detention, raising questions about due process and adherence to established legal procedures.
The rights group also documented severe child protection concerns. During the visits, monitors found women detained alongside their young children some as young as two years old due to the absence of alternative caretakers. CHRDI further recorded 20 minors under the age of 18 being detained in the same cells as adult suspects, a practice it flagged as both ethically unacceptable and a violation of national and international child protection standards.
Testimonies from detainees painted an even grimmer picture. Several individuals alleged they had been physically assaulted during arrest or while in custody. CHRDI noted that most cell rooms were “dark, cramped, and unwelcoming,” conditions that compound the distress of those held within. Sanitation across the police stations assessed was also reported to be “notably poor,” creating unhealthy and degrading environments for detainees.
Beyond detention conditions, CHRDI raised concerns over the practical impact of the Criminal Procedure Act (CPA) 2024, which it says has introduced additional financial strains on both complainants and police officers. Individuals now reportedly pay for copies of essential documents required for reporting and investigating crimes an arrangement the organization believes may hinder access to justice for vulnerable populations.
CHRDI said it has compiled data and photographs from its visits and intends to share them publicly to draw attention to the urgent need for reform within Sierra Leone’s policing and justice systems.
The organization is calling on relevant authorities to address the violations uncovered, prioritize the welfare of detainees, and ensure full compliance with human rights standards across all police facilities.
