ill-treatment received at Všehrdy Prison. Following repeated requests by the CPT to carry out an inquiry, the Czech authorities informed the Committee that the Director of the prison had been dismissed and that disciplinary and criminal proceedings had been initiated against a number of staff. The material conditions were on the whole acceptable at Litomĕřice Remand Prison and Valdice Prison, and the delegation gained a generally favourable impression of the regime offered to sentenced prisoners at Valdice Prison. That said, the CPT expresses its serious concern about the fact that the overwhelming majority of remand prisoners at Litomĕřice Remand Prison were not offered any regular out-of-cell activities. The situation of one juvenile who had de facto been held in a solitary-confinement regime for some three months gave rise to particular concern. The report describes a number of improvements regarding the situation of life-sentenced prisoners at Valdice Prison. The CPT stresses that further measures are required to render the regime satisfactory; it also reiterates its recommendation to integrate lifesentenced prisoners into the general prison population. Further, the Committee once again expresses its misgivings about the systematic handcuffing of life-sentenced prisoners and their guarding by a dog during movements outside the detention unit. Moreover, it recommends that immediate steps be taken to put an end to collective stripsearches, as well as to the use of guard dogs within detention areas. In their response, the Czech authorities inform the Committee that efforts will continue to improve the possibilities for out-of-cell activities for remand prisoners. Information is also provided on the steps being taken to further improve the situation of life-sentenced prisoners, including the abolition of the rule requiring their segregation from the rest of the prison population, and on changes which will be initiated to the rules concerning strip-searching of prisoners. 40. As regards the situation in the security detention facility, many inmates interviewed by the delegation at Brno Remand Prison made no allegations of ill-treatment by staff. However, the delegation did receive some allegations of inmates being slapped and/or verbally abused by members of the custodial staff. Moreover, several allegations were heard that inmates with learning disabilities had been compelled by custodial staff to dance, bark, eat grass and drink water from a bucket. If confirmed, such actions would, in the CPT’s view, amount to degrading treatment. Material conditions in the security detention facility were generally very good. That said, the CPT encourages the Czech authorities to further develop the regime provided to inmates in order to ensure that they can spend more time out of their rooms. As regards health care, the delegation gained a generally positive impression of the range of therapeutic and recreational activities. However, the Committee is concerned that all contact between the psychiatrist/psychologist and inmates was conducted through metal bars. In their response, the Czech authorities assure the Committee that prison officers and staff are and will be regularly trained and reminded to comply strictly with all legal standards and instructions. Efforts will also be made to enable contact between psychiatrists/psychologists and inmates to take place without partitioning. Publication highlights ► Page 19