10. The focus of the visit to Serbia in May/June was the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty by the police and the material conditions in which they were held, as well as the practical application of safeguards surrounding their detention. The delegation also examined the manner in which complaints of ill-treatment of detained persons by police officers were handled and looked into the treatment and conditions of detention of remand prisoners. 11. Northern Ireland (United Kingdom) was visited for the first time since 2008 in August/September. The focus of this ad hoc visit was to examine the conditions of detention and treatment of inmates at Maghaberry Prison and at Ash House women’s prison within Hydebank Wood College. The CPT’s delegation also visited the medium secure psychiatric establishment, Shannon Clinic. It was the first time that the CPT had examined the conditions and treatment of psychiatric patients in Northern Ireland. In addition, the situation of persons apprehended by the police in several police stations in the region was examined. 12. The CPT carried out its first visit to the United Kingdom Sovereign Base Areas (SBA) on Cyprus in February, which provided an opportunity to examine the treatment and safeguards in place for persons deprived of their liberty by the SBA Police and the British Forces Cyprus and to assess the conditions of detention and treatment of persons held in Dhekelia Prison. The CPT’s delegation also briefly assessed the situation and existing safeguards for migrants held within the SBA. Public statements 13. On 13 July 2017, the Committee issued a public statement concerning Belgium under Article 10, paragraph 2, of the Convention;1 the text of the statement is reproduced in Appendix 8. For 12 years, the CPT has consistently expressed its deep concern regarding the serious consequences which can result from industrial action by prison staff in Belgium. The question of establishing a service guaranteeing the basic rights of persons held in prison establishments (“guaranteed minimum service”) was raised in the CPT’s reports on the 2005, 2009, 2012 and 2013 visits. The dialogue between the Committee and the Belgian authorities intensified further with effect from March 2014 when, given the lack of any progress for many years, the CPT was obliged to initiate the Article 10, paragraph 2, procedure. In May 2016, the CPT carried out an ad hoc visit to Belgium in reaction to the ongoing strikes by prison staff at the time. The delegation noted that virtually all the prison staff were absent due to industrial action in the establishments visited. Police officers had been called in to assist the management, a handful of volunteer prison and health service employees and other reassigned staff. This was not sufficient to ensure acceptable conditions of detention. During its visits to the 47 Council of Europe member states over the 1. “If the Party fails to co-operate or refuses to improve the situation in the light of the Committee’s recommendations, the Committee may decide, after the Party has had an opportunity to make known its views, by a majority of two-thirds of its members to make a public statement on the matter”. Activities during the period 1 January to 31 December 2017 ► Page 9