Report to the Greek Government on the Visit to Greece Carried out by The
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CPT/Inf (2014) 26 Report to the Greek Government on the visit to Greece carried out by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) from 4 to 16 April 2013 The Greek Government has requested the publication of this report and of its response. The Government’s response is set out in document CPT/Inf (2014) 27. Strasbourg, 16 October 2014 - 2 - CONTENTS Copy of the letter transmitting the CPT’s report............................................................................5 I. INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................................6 A. Dates of the visit and composition of the delegation ..............................................................6 B. Establishments visited...............................................................................................................7 C. Consultations held by the delegation.......................................................................................9 D. Cooperation between the CPT and the Greek authorities ....................................................9 E. Immediate observations under Article 8, paragraph 5, of the Convention .......................10 F. National Preventive Mechanism ............................................................................................11 II. FACTS FOUND DURING THE VISIT AND ACTION PROPOSED ..............................12 A. Treatment of persons detained by the police........................................................................12 1. Preliminary remarks ........................................................................................................12 2. Ill-treatment .....................................................................................................................12 3. Safeguards against ill-treatment ......................................................................................19 a. notification of custody............................................................................................19 b. access to a lawyer...................................................................................................20 c. access to a doctor ...................................................................................................21 d. information on rights..............................................................................................22 e. conduct of interrogations........................................................................................22 f. custody records.......................................................................................................23 B. Conditions of detention in police and border guard stations..............................................24 1. Police detention facilities in the Attika region ................................................................24 2. Police detention facilities in Central Macedonia, Epirus and Thessaly regions..............26 3. Police and border guard stations in East Macedonia and Thrace region.........................27 4. Issues affecting all police and border guard stations: food and hygiene, medical care and staffing ...................................................................29 5. Action to be taken............................................................................................................31 C. Conditions of detention in establishments under the Port Authorities..............................32 - 3 - D. Immigration detention centres...............................................................................................34 1. Preliminary remarks ........................................................................................................34 a. legislation ...............................................................................................................34 b. recent policy developments....................................................................................35 c. pre-departure centres and holding facilities visited ...............................................36 2. Ill-treatment .....................................................................................................................38 3. Conditions of detention ...................................................................................................40 a. pre-departure centres..............................................................................................40 b. special holding facilities for irregular migrants .....................................................42 4. Unaccompanied minors ...................................................................................................44 5. Staffing ............................................................................................................................47 6. Health-care.......................................................................................................................48 7. Other issues......................................................................................................................49 E. Prison establishments .............................................................................................................52 1. Preliminary remarks ........................................................................................................52 2. Ill-treatment .....................................................................................................................53 3. Conditions of detention ...................................................................................................55 a. material conditions .................................................................................................56 b. regime.....................................................................................................................60 4. Health-care services.........................................................................................................62 a. introduction ............................................................................................................63 b. health-care in general .............................................................................................63 c. medical screening upon admission.........................................................................66 d. HIV positive prisoners ...........................................................................................67 e. drug treatment ........................................................................................................68 f. medical confidentiality...........................................................................................69 5. Other issues......................................................................................................................70 a. prison staff..............................................................................................................70 b. reception and induction procedures .......................................................................72 c. discipline and segregation ......................................................................................72 d. searches ..................................................................................................................74 e. contact with the outside world ...............................................................................75 f. transport of prisoners..............................................................................................76 g. foreign national prisoners.......................................................................................76 - 4 - APPENDIX I: List of the CPT’s recommendations, comments and requests for information ................78 APPENDIX II: List of the national authorities and organisations met by the CPT's delegation ..............93 - 5 - Copy of the letter transmitting the CPT’s report Mr Iraklis Asteriadis Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Permanent Representative of Greece to the Council of Europe 21 place Broglie 67000 Strasbourg Strasbourg, 25 July 2013 Dear Ambassador, In pursuance of Article 10, paragraph 1, of the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, I enclose herewith the report to the Government of Greece drawn up by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) following its visit to Greece from 4 to 16 April 2013. The report was adopted by the CPT at its 81st meeting, held from 1 to 5 July 2013. The recommendations, comments and requests for information formulated by the CPT are listed in Appendix I of the report. The CPT requests the authorities of Greece to provide within six months a response giving a full account of action taken to implement the Committee’s recommendations as well as reactions and replies to the comments and requests for information. In respect of the recommendations and requests for information contained in paragraphs 16, 17, 24, 44, 64, 80, 99 and 108.i., the CPT requests that a response be provided within three months. I am at your entire disposal if you have any questions concerning either the CPT’s report or the future procedure. Yours sincerely, Lətif Hüseynov President of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment