CAT/C/POL/CO/7 these provisions to judicial control and to the possibility of appeal; and ensure that prosecutors do not interrogate suspects without the participation of their lawyers; (e) Ensure that detained persons receive a confidential medical examination by an independent doctor within 24 hours of their arrival in a place of detention; that they have the right to request and receive an independent medical examination at any time, out of the sight and hearing of law enforcement personnel unless the doctor requests otherwise; and that they are not subjected to searches amounting to degrading treatment by persons of the opposite sex; (f) Take effective steps to bring its legislation and practice into line with international instruments to which it is a party, including the Convention and, inter alia, Directive 2013/48/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council. Pretrial detention 17. The Committee is concerned: (a) At the extent of application and the duration of pretrial detention, and that the Code of Criminal Procedure does not provide for a maximum period of pretrial detention; (b) That pretrial detention can be extended without justification; that courts have difficulties justifying extensions and that the Code of Criminal Procedure allows for sixmonth extensions of pretrial detention after the first verdict of the court of first instance; (c) That the Code of Criminal Procedure stipulates that pretrial detention is not applied in cases where a crime carries a custodial sentence of one year or less; and that appeals against decisions on pretrial detention have a low rate of success (arts. 2, 14 and 16). 18. The State party should: (a) Ensure that pretrial detention is used as an exception and a measure of last resort and is applied for a limited period of time; and establish a maximum period prescribed by law that can be monitored by a court of law; (b) Take measures to put a stop to the practice of extending pretrial detention, and in particular to the six-month extensions of pretrial detention after the initial verdict of the court of first instance that are allowed under the Code of Criminal Procedure, to ensure that pretrial detention is not prolonged arbitrarily and to ensure that pretrial detainees are held separately from convicted prisoners; (c) Consider replacing pretrial detention with non-custodial measures, especially for sentences not exceeding two years, and consider alternatives to detention, in accordance with the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for Non-custodial Measures (the Tokyo Rules); (d) Ensure that redress and compensation are provided to persons who are victims of unjustified prolonged pretrial detention. Police brutality 19. The Committee is seriously concerned about: (a) Reports of excessive use of force by the police, including with electric discharge weapons (tasers), against arrested persons who were handcuffed or otherwise immobilized, despite the fact that the law stipulates that force may be used only to ensure compliance with police orders; (b) Reports that officers who were charged with offences were not sentenced; that, in one case, it was impossible to determine the identities of the police officers who were responsible for using violence; and that persons who have suffered injuries by the police are mostly able to obtain justice only when applying to and receiving a judgment from the European Court of Human Rights; 6