Places of Medium-Term Deprivation of Liberty
custody. Thus, for example, at the CIE in Algeciras (Cadiz) the standard practice
is for strip searches to be ordered by the senior officer on duty; these searches are
recorded in the inmate’s file, including the reasons for conducting them, but there
is no mention of any notification being made to any authority. The rules governing
such practices need to be substantially improved.
Notwithstanding the above, all inmates to be admitted are searched upon arrival
A search is performed upon
at the centre. Given that these people are being transferred from police or court
arrival at the centre
premises, where they have already undergone their corresponding searches, and
that they have remained at all times in the custody of the CNP, it is not generally
reasonable to proceed with thorough searches.
278. Inmates arrive at a centre in very different situations as regards the
Access to personal
possession and availability of personal belongings, ranging from those cases in
belongings should be
which people have nothing more than the clothes they are wearing to others who
have luggage, either right from the start or because it has been provided by friends
or family. As already mentioned, the centres tend to have a selection of clothing
guaranteed irrespective of
organisational and security
considerations
to meet the needs of those in a more precarious situation. Inmates do not keep
their belongings with them, as these are safeguarded in storage areas, although
they can access them if necessary under the supervision of the guards. A lack of
space, the absence of suitable furniture for storing these items and security
considerations mean that inmates cannot keep their belongings with them.
Nonetheless, the inmates’ access to their personal belongings should be guaranteed,
irrespective of organisational and security considerations.
Any cash, over and above that required for the vending machines or phone cards,
Cash is safeguarded
and valuables are listed and safeguarded.
279. Inmates are not permitted to keep their mobile phones, which are
The authorities should
confiscated as soon as they arrive at a CIE, although certain establishments allow
allow inmates unrestricted
access to them to check their agenda or even make calls if they do not have any
money to use public phones. As the Ombudsman has been proposing, the
access to their mobile
phones
authorities should allow inmates unrestricted access to their mobile phones,
adopting those security measures as deemed appropriate, as may be the
introduction of a system for keeping them in individual lockers. On the other
hand, greater care should be taken to maintain the public phones installed in
communal areas, where calls can be made and received, as they are often out of
order.
280. In spite of the repeated indications and recommendations this Institution
Guards at these
has made in recent years, not all the guards at these establishments wear their ID
establishments do not wear
plaques at all times.
THE OMBUDSMAN OF SPAIN
their ID plaques at all times
121
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