Police respond to court-day hunger complaints

The Namibian Police has launched a review across all 14 regions to strengthen compliance with its obligation to provide meals to trial-awaiting inmates, particularly on days they attend court.

The review was launched after the Oshakati High Court last month ordered three police stations to ensure accused persons receive food on court days following complaints that many spend whole days at court without food.

Police spokesperson Deputy Commissioner Kauna Shikwambi told Namibian Sun that the police respects the High Court directive issued on 23 July, which ordered the station commanders at Ondangwa, Omungwelume and Oshakati police stations to ensure accused persons appearing before court receive breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Shikwambi said police are identifying practical measures to improve compliance while taking operational requirements and available resources into account.

Shikwambi said detainees in police custody are fed three meals a day in accordance with prescribed standards.

However, she acknowledged that operational challenges, including transporting accused persons over long distances, lengthy court proceedings and delays in food preparation or delivery, can occasionally affect the timing of meals.

“Where such circumstances arise, station commanders make reasonable arrangements to ensure that persons in police custody receive prescribed meals,” she said.

Improved diet

Shikwambi said relatives are also permitted to bring food for inmates, subject to the necessary security procedures to prevent the smuggling of prohibited items into police holding cells.  

The deputy commissioner confirmed that an overall review of the types of food provided to inmates is also ongoing.

“As part of its ongoing commitment to improving detention conditions, the Namibian Police also continues to implement recommendations made by the Office of the Ombudsman on detention conditions and recently engaged the state chief dietician, who recommended minor adjustments to the existing menu to improve the nutritional standards of meals served to inmates,” she said.

Shikwambi reiterated their commitment to treating all inmates humanely and encouraged members of the public to report any concerns.

"Such reports will be investigated promptly, and appropriate corrective measures will be taken where necessary,” she said.

Dignity and rights

Last month, Oshakati-based legal practitioner Wilmarie Horn-Bronkhorst alleged that accused persons attending court were being left hungry, forcing the postponement of a High Court trial after the accused reportedly became too weak to continue proceedings.

The concerns culminated in the Oshakati High Court ordering station commanders at the Ondangwa, Omungwelume and Oshakati police stations to ensure six accused persons receive breakfast, lunch and dinner on court days.

Horn-Bronkhorst argued that denying accused persons food while they attend court could violate their constitutional rights to dignity and a fair trial, warning that prolonged hunger may compromise an accused person’s ability to participate meaningfully in legal proceedings.