its long-standing recommendation that the practice of holding remand prisoners in police cells be discontinued. 45. Regarding the fundamental safeguards against ill-treatment, the CPT’s delegation found that detained persons were generally afforded the right of access to a lawyer and were provided with information on their rights in writing shortly after apprehension. By contrast, delays in notification of custody remained widespread, especially when the apprehended person was a foreign national without residence in Finland. Further, access to health care in police custody also remained problematic. In their response, the Finnish authorities describe, inter alia, the steps being taken to improve access to a doctor in police custody, reduce delays in notification of custody and refurbish “police prisons”. They also inform the CPT of the progress of the working group to reduce recourse to and shorten the duration of remand detention in “police prisons”. According to the authorities, relevant legislative steps could be taken in the spring of 2016 and enter into force at the beginning of 2017. 46. The delegation received no allegations of ill-treatment at Metsälä Detention Unit for Foreigners. Material conditions and activities were on the whole adequate. As regards health care, the CPT calls upon the authorities to ensure prompt systematic medical screening of all foreign nationals upon arrival. As regards the Konnunsuo Detention Unit for Foreigners, located in a former prison, the material conditions were generally adequate. However, the whole environment remained unavoidably carceral and there was very limited space envisaged for association. The CPT recommends that these problems be addressed. In their response, the Finnish authorities provide information on steps being taken to improve conditions of detention in the above-mentioned establishment. 47. The report outlines in detail various issues related to prisons, in particular the phenomenon of inter-prisoner violence and intimidation, as well as the situation of prisoners held in high-security and closed units. The CPT recommends that a suitable programme of purposeful activities be provided to prisoners held in conditions of high security or segregated by court order. Overall, the Committee noted that material con­ ditions for the mainstream prison population were good in the prisons visited. That said, the delegation observed that there were still many cells without a toilet at Helsinki and Kerava Prisons. The CPT calls upon the Finnish authorities to completely eliminate the practice of “slopping out” in prisons. Regarding health-care services in prisons, the CPT reiterates its assessment from the 2008 visit that there is an insufficient doctors’ presence in the prisons visited and recommends that this be increased. In their response, the Finnish authorities refer to ongoing legal reforms with respect to prisons, steps being taken to prevent a resurgence in overcrowding and inter-prisoner violence, and progress in eliminating the practice of “slopping out”. Further, they provide details of steps being taken to improve the regime, activities and placement and review procedures in high-security and closed units, address the CPT’s recommendations concerning segregation of remand prisoners on court order, and broaden the offer of activities for prisoners. The authorities inform the Publication highlights ► Page 21