CPT/Inf (96) 11 Report to the United Kingdom Government on the visit to the United Kingdom carried out by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) from 15 to 31 May 1994 The United Kingdom Government has requested the publication of this report and of it's final response. The Government's final response is set out in document CPT/Inf (96) 12. Strasbourg, 5 March 1996 - 2 - TABLE OF CONTENTS Page COPY OF THE LETTER TRANSMITTING THE CPT'S REPORT .........................................7 I. INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................................7 A. Dates of the visit and composition of the delegation ..............................................................8 B. Establishments visited...............................................................................................................9 C. Consultations held by the delegation.....................................................................................10 D. Co-operation encountered during the visit...........................................................................10 E. Immediate observations under Article 8 (5) of the Convention..........................................13 II. FACTS FOUND DURING THE VISIT TO ENGLAND AND ACTION PROPOSED...13 A. Police establishments ..............................................................................................................14 1. Introduction .....................................................................................................................14 2. Torture and other forms of ill-treatment..........................................................................14 3. Conditions of detention ...................................................................................................16 a. introduction ............................................................................................................17 b. situation in the establishments visited....................................................................17 4. Safeguards against ill-treatment ......................................................................................21 B. Customs detention...................................................................................................................23 C. Prisons ......................................................................................................................................23 1. Introduction .....................................................................................................................24 2. Torture and other forms of ill-treatment..........................................................................24 3. Follow-up visits ...............................................................................................................24 a. Leeds Prison ...........................................................................................................25 b. Wandsworth Prison ................................................................................................28 4. Liverpool Prison ..............................................................................................................30 5. Assessment of progress since the CPT's first periodic visit and proposals for further action ...............................................................................................................................32 - 3 - 6. Other issues related to the CPT's mandate.......................................................................35 a. health care services ................................................................................................35 i. introduction...................................................................................................35 ii. staff and facilities..........................................................................................36 iii. medical screening on reception ....................................................................36 iv. HIV+ prisoners.............................................................................................37 v. suicide prevention.........................................................................................37 b. prison staff - inmate relations.................................................................................38 c. outdoor exercise .....................................................................................................39 d. reception facilities ..................................................................................................40 e. contact with the outside world ...............................................................................41 f. disciplinary and control measures..........................................................................42 g. complaints and inspection procedures ...................................................................48 h. stability of location of unconvicted prisoners ........................................................49 D. HM Young Offender Institution and Remand Centre, Feltham ........................................50 1. Introduction .....................................................................................................................50 2. Torture and other forms of ill-treatment..........................................................................50 3. Solitary confinement-type regimes..................................................................................51 4. Material conditions of detention......................................................................................53 5. Activities programmes.....................................................................................................54 6. Outdoor exercise..............................................................................................................56 7. Health care services .........................................................................................................56 a. staff.........................................................................................................................56 b. facilities ..................................................................................................................57 c. medical examination on arrival..............................................................................58 d. access to medical care ............................................................................................59 8. Other issues related to the CPT's mandate.......................................................................59 a. contact with the outside world ...............................................................................59 b. induction of new arrivals........................................................................................60 c. application of the points and levels system............................................................60 - 4 - E. Administrative detention of foreign nationals......................................................................61 1. Torture and other forms of ill-treatment..........................................................................61 2. Places of detention at Gatwick and Heathrow Airports ..................................................63 a. Gatwick Airport .....................................................................................................63 b. Heathrow Airport ...................................................................................................65 3. The Immigration Detention Centre, Campsfield House..................................................67 a. introduction ............................................................................................................67 b. conditions of detention...........................................................................................68 c. contact with the outside world ...............................................................................69 d. medical care ...........................................................................................................70 e. placement in isolation ............................................................................................71 f. the staff...................................................................................................................72 g. Visitors Committee ................................................................................................73 4. Pentonville Prison............................................................................................................74 5. Other matters ...................................................................................................................75 F. Rampton Special Hospital ......................................................................................................76 1. Introduction .....................................................................................................................77 2. Torture and other forms of ill-treatment..........................................................................78 3. Staff resources and night cover .......................................................................................79 4. Living conditions for patients..........................................................................................81