CAT/C/42/2
page 35
26. The superior should report the case and the decision to inquire or investigate to the
ministry responsible for the police and to the central register.
27. Not only in cases of allegations of torture, but also in cases where the detainee have
remarkable lesions or a high number of lesions without allegations of torture/ill-treatment, the
doctor should note the detainee’s account of their origin in the medical file and send a copy of
the medical file to his superior.
28. Such reports should be compiled in the data base below and classified as a case of violence
of other than torture or of uncertain origin.
29. In all cases where the doctor assesses that torture or severe ill-treatment could have
happened, the detainee should be offered a thorough medical/psychological examination by
trained experts according to the Istanbul Protocol to take place within a time limit that permits
the experts to assess superficial physical lesions possibly caused by torture/severe ill-treatment,
i.e. within a week.
30. The SPT is of the opinion that all allegations of torture and severe ill-treatment, and cases
of multi-traumatization of uncertain origin cited above, should be registered in a data base with
information about - among other items:
• Hour date and place of alleged ill-treatment
• The security body implicated and if possible characteristics of involved officers
• Place of apprehension and detention
• Nature of the allegations
• Most important findings and the conclusion of the medical examination by the doctor in
the police facility
• Most important findings and the conclusion of the expert medical/psychological
examination
• Details of an inquiry and the result hereof
31. The SPT is of the opinion that a proactive compliance with such a programme by doctors
in police and detention facilities would have a considerable impact on preventing torture. The
proactive attitude to examining cases of possible torture and ill-treatment should be made known
to all police officers and the implementation would deter many officers from resorting to torture
and ill-treatment.
32. A database as outlined would be a useful tool for the authorities to analyse the problem of
torture including identifying risk factors, in order to better prevent torture and ill-treatment.
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