SATURDAY 28 AUGUST Brigade Territoriale de la Gendarmerie, Parakou he visit was undertaken during the weekend. The two top officers of the 1 station were away. The official at post was most uncomfortable answering questions without authorisation from his superiors. Nevertheless there was no suspect in custody. The third official referred to above explained that in view of the 48 hour rule on detention it was not advisable to hold people over the weekend. Central Police Station, Parakou second storey was being added to one of the buildings at the station. Roofing had been completed. A The Officer in Charge of the Station, Deputy Commissioner Mama Sika Laris was called from his house to attend to us. One of the 2 cells at the station was reserved for dangerous suspects/criminals and the other for the rest of the suspects. The former had no window. Women and children are kept behind the back of a counter, on a bench. Commissioner Laris stated that were resources available there would have been more cells for different categories of offenders. Suspects in Custody The only suspect in custody indicated that he was detained on Friday. Because he would have to wait until Monday before making his statement, the 48 hour rule would be broken. He had not been beaten in the course of his arrest. Mr. Laris informed me that one of the buildings at the station was built by a local organisation. Problems stated by Mr. Laris: Because there is no police camp, policemen live all over the city. Until 6 months ago when the station was given a vehicle from an agreement with France, it had none. "Why is the World Bank not interested in Police Work?" was a question from Deputy Commissioner Laris to which I did not have a convincing answer. 36 37