Trevor Young, the founder and pioneer of the Sierra Leone To The Top Beach Cleaning Project, has spoken out after his arrest and detention by the police over a video he shared online.
In a statement posted on his Facebook page, Trevor said he was arrested by officers at Congo Cross and later taken to the Criminal Investigations Department, CID, where he was held by the cybercrime unit. He was accused of cyberbullying and cyberstalking the Sierra Leone Police.
According to Trevor, his arrest followed a video he made after a real-life encounter with police officers. He explained that he was in a kehkeh that was stopped by the police, and he decided to document what he observed. In the same video, a woman he interviewed also shared her own separate experience with the police in the Aberdeen area.
Trevor said the video was peaceful, verbal, and did not encourage violence or insults. He stated that the video simply showed people talking about their experiences with the police. Despite this, he was accused of committing a cybercrime.
He questioned how the cybercrime law is being applied, saying it is worrying that:
describing your experience can be called a cybercrime,
sharing your story can be labeled cyberbullying, and
asking public institutions to be accountable can be called cyberstalking.
Trevor highlighted that the actions above constitute serious grounds for the violation of freedom of speech, the freedom of the press, and the freedoms of the general public. Trevor noted that people should be free to discuss their experiences with public officials, especially when they occur in public, with no fear of being arrested.
“I believe citizens have the right to observe, document, and discuss their lived experiences,” he said, adding that this is important in any society that respects basic rights.
He also thanked members of the public who reached out in support during his detention. Trevor praised the officers at CID for their professionalism and confirmed that he has now been released.
However, he stressed that the issue goes beyond him as an individual.
“This matter is bigger than me,” he said. “It is about whether telling the truth has now become a crime.”
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John Trevor is well known for his environmental work, especially his efforts to clean beaches and raise awareness about waste management in Sierra Leone. His arrest has sparked discussion among citizens and activists about the limits of the cybercrime law and the space for free expression in the country.
