Robert Godden, a human rights observer, heard “howls of pain” while he was in detention

A British human rights observer who was detained by Hong Kong police for more than 15 hours, denied access to food and deprived of sleep has raised concerns that the force is abusing its powers as a clampdown against protesters intensifies.

Robert Godden, 49, was taken into custody on the morning of November 18 with a local colleague from Rights Exposure, a human rights consultancy, near the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, after a night of clashes between demonstrators and riot police.

Although they were wearing vests declaring their roles and carrying identification, police detained them on suspicion of participating in a riot, he said. “I explained to them what we were doing, that it’s legitimate human rights work, that we’re a legally registered Hong