CPT/Inf (2013) 6 Report to the Spanish Government on the visit to Spain carried out by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) from 31 May to 13 June 2011 The Spanish Government has requested the publication of this report and of its response. The Government’s response is set out in document CPT/Inf (2013) 7. Strasbourg, 30 April 2013 - 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. Co-operation between the CPT and the authorities of Spain ...............................................9 E. Immediate observations under Article 8, paragraph 5, of the Convention .......................10 II. FACTS FOUND DURING THE VISIT AND ACTION PROPOSED ..............................11 A. Law enforcement agencies......................................................................................................11 1. Preliminary remarks ........................................................................................................11 2. Incommunicado detention ...............................................................................................12 a. introduction ............................................................................................................12 b. torture and other forms of ill-treatment..................................................................13 c. action taken by the Spanish authorities following the 2007 visit...........................16 i. incommunicado detention of minors ...........................................................16 ii specifc safeguards vis-à-vis persons held in incommunicado detention......16 iii incommunicado detention orders and extensions of the custody period......17 iv. access to a lawyer.........................................................................................18 v. access to a doctor, including of one’s own choice.......................................18 vi. interrogation procedures..............................................................................19 vii. custody records and video surveillance .......................................................20 viii. judicial scrutiny............................................................................................21 d. conditions of detention...........................................................................................21 3. Ordinary custody .............................................................................................................22 a. ill-treatment ............................................................................................................22 b. safeguards against ill-treatment..............................................................................23 i. notification of custody ..................................................................................23 ii. access to a lawyer.........................................................................................23 iii. access to a doctor.........................................................................................24 iv. information on rights and custody records ..................................................24 c. conditions of detention...........................................................................................25 - 3 - B. Prison establishments .............................................................................................................26 1. Preliminary remarks ........................................................................................................26 a. prison overcrowding...............................................................................................26 b. prisons visited.........................................................................................................27 2. Ill-treatment .....................................................................................................................28 3. Conditions of detention ...................................................................................................29 a. introduction ............................................................................................................29 b. regime.....................................................................................................................30 c. material conditions .................................................................................................30 d. “modulos de respeto” .............................................................................................31 4. Means of restraint ............................................................................................................32 5. Prisoners detained in special departments .......................................................................34 6. Health care.......................................................................................................................36 7. Other issues......................................................................................................................37 a. discipline ................................................................................................................37 b. contact with the outside world ...............................................................................39 c. supervision .............................................................................................................39 C. Foreign nationals held under aliens legislation ....................................................................40 1. Preliminary remarks ........................................................................................................40 2. Ill-treatment .....................................................................................................................41 3. Conditions of detention ...................................................................................................43 a. material conditions .................................................................................................43 b. regime.....................................................................................................................44 4. Health care.......................................................................................................................45 5. Other issues......................................................................................................................46 D. Law enforcement agencies in Catalonia................................................................................48 1. Preliminary remarks ........................................................................................................48 2. Ill-treatment and effective investigations ........................................................................48 3. Safeguards against ill-treatment ......................................................................................51 4. Conditions of detention ...................................................................................................53 - 4 - E. Prison establishments in Catalonia .......................................................................................55 1. Preliminary remarks ........................................................................................................55 a. prison overcrowding...............................................................................................55 b. prisons visited.........................................................................................................55 2. Ill-treatment .....................................................................................................................56 3. Means of restraint ............................................................................................................58 4. Prisoners subject to special regimes ................................................................................62 5. Conditions of detention ...................................................................................................65 6. Staff matters.....................................................................................................................66 7. Health care.......................................................................................................................66 8. Other issues......................................................................................................................68 a. discipline ................................................................................................................68 b. complaints and supervision ....................................................................................70 c. foreign nationals.....................................................................................................71 F.