However, there are occasional instances of excessive use of force by the police. The police force conducts its own internal investigation when complaints are made against members. There was one reported incident of excessive physical force against civilians by a police officer, involving abuse of a suspect. The police conducted an internal investigation of this case, but the case finally was dropped due to lack of sufficient evidence. Prison conditions are poor.
Prisoners suffer from severe overcrowding and poor food, and security is lax.
These conditions have contributed to riots in the past, although none has occurred since 1994. The prison, built in 1840, was designed to accommodate 60 inmates but houses approximately 127 prisoners. The Government permits prison visits by independent human rights monitors. The Constitution prohibits arbitrary arrest and detention, and the Government respects this provision in practice. The law requires that persons detained be charged within 48 hours or be released.