Freetown, 13th May, 2026 — A monitoring report by the Campaign for Human Rights and Development International (CHRDI) has revealed widespread violations of statutory detention limits and systemic failures across police facilities in Freetown, raising urgent concerns about access to justice and the protection of detainees’ rights.
The survey, conducted on 28 April, 5 May, and 7 May 2026, covered 953 individuals held in custody across 15 police stations and posts. The findings paint a troubling picture of prolonged pre‑charge detention, lack of legal representation, and breaches of juvenile justice standards.
CHRDI’s Chief Executive, Abdul M. Fatoma, described the situation as a crisis undermining the rule of law.
“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. This is not a minor administrative lapse; it is a systemic failure that erodes public trust in our institutions,” he said.
Key Findings:
Over‑Detention: Out of 953 suspects, 495 (52%) were held beyond statutory time limits, with the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) recording the highest violations (144 suspects).
Legal Representation Crisis: More than 900 detainees lacked access to lawyers, including 140 isolated at CID. Smaller posts, such as Adelaide Street and Kissy Shell, also recorded detainees without counsel.
Depressed Processing Rates: Only 42 suspects were released on bail and 55 charged in court during the monitoring period. Several facilities, including Ross Road and Kissy Shell, recorded zero court charges, while Kissy Barracks and others reported no bail releases.
Demographics: The majority of detainees were aged 18–35, with men making up 93% of those held.
Juvenile Violations: Minors were found in adult detention areas across 11 facilities, including 13 at Kissy Barracks and 7 at Calaba Town.
CHRDI documented several procedural breaches, including suspects held for weeks without charge, minors detained alongside adults, and prolonged confinement due to administrative delays. At Ross Road Police Station, three murder suspects remained in custody despite being formally charged, while at CID, one suspect had been detained for 76 days due to cross‑border case delays involving Guinean authorities and INTERPOL.
CHRDI is urging immediate reforms to restore compliance with constitutional safeguards, protect detainees’ rights, and ensure accountability across the justice system.
The organization emphasized that systemic failures in detention practices not only violate human rights but also weaken public confidence in Sierra Leone’s institutions.
