Police personnel should be instructed to inform detainees of this right and to implement the right by notifying the person indicated. 293.The SPT recommends that the authorities ensure that all persons deprived of their liberty are entitled to benefit from the assistance of a lawyer as from the outset of deprivation of liberty. They should be systematically informed about this right by the police and be provided with reasonable facilities to consult a lawyer in private. Furthermore, if a detainee does not have a lawyer of his/her own choice, he/she should be entitled to have one assigned to him/her, and benefit from free legal assistance if he/she does not have sufficient means to pay. 294.The SPT recommends that the authorities introduce systematic medical examination of all persons in police custody and that these examinations are carried out without using any restraints measures. The SPT also recommends that medical examinations be conducted in accordance with the principle of medical confidentiality; non-medical persons, other than the patient, should not be present. In exceptional cases, where a doctor so requests, special security arrangements may be considered relevant, such as having a police officer within call. The doctor should note this assessment in the records, as well as the names of all persons present. However, police officers should always stay out of hearing and preferably out of sight of a medical examination. 295.The SPT recommends that every routine medical examinations is carried out using a standard form that includes (a) a medical history (b) an account by the person examined of any violence (c) the result of the thorough physical examination, including a description of any injuries and (d) where the doctor’s training so allows, an assessment as to consistency between the three first items. The medical record should, upon request from the detainee, be made available to him/her or to his/her lawyer. 296.Further to the request for the death certificate made in the note verbale dated 3 March 2008, the SPT requests a copy of the autopsy report of Mr. Solah. 297.The SPT recommends that the Maldives Police Service develop a standardised and unified record for registering contemporaneously and comprehensively all key information about an individual’s deprivation of liberty and that police staff be trained to use this appropriately and consistently. The SPT recommends that the records should include at least the following information: (a)The reasons for the deprivation of liberty, the exact time when it started and how long it lasted; (b)Person responsible for authorization of the deprivation of the liberty and person making the entry in the register; (c)Precise information about where the person was held during that period, including any movements within and between establishments; (d)When the person first appeared before a judicial or other authority; (e)Requests and complaints; (f)Time when the person was informed about his/her rights, time of notification of custody, the identity of the notified person as well as the officer who made the notification; (g)Time when the person was seen by a doctor or received a visit from a family member, lawyer or other person. 298.Furthermore, the SPT recommends that, in order to ensure systematic recording of all relevant information, supervising officers should exercise strict oversight of record keeping. 299.The SPT requests the Maldivian authorities to provide further information on the mandate and powers of the internal investigation department and the Police Disciplinary Board, the number and type of complaints lodged during the years 2007-2008 and the outcome of these investigations. The SPT also requests information as to whether there are any other bodies or offices vested with powers to examine complaints made against police, and if so, about their mandates, the number of cases examined in 2007 and 2008 and the outcome of the examination. 300.The SPT recommends that the right of detainees to lodge a complaint is clearly established in law and that detainees are fully informed about this right by the police officers and/or staff working in the police detention facilities. In this connection the SPT wishes to emphasize the duty of the Maldivian authorities to ensure that there are no reprisals as a result of lodging a complaint. 301.The SPT recommends that the authorities ensure that the detainees have the possibility to lodge a complaint in practice, and that the principle of confidentiality of complaints is duly respected. Police officers or staff working in detention centres should not interfere with the complaints process, filter the complaints addressed to competent authorities or have access to the content of the complaints. The SPT recommends drawing up rules for use by the police officers regarding handling of complaints, which should include modalities concerning referral of the complaint to the competent authorities, the obligation to respect the anonymity of the complainant, and the duty to make available writing materials and envelopes for detainees wishing to lodge a complaint. 302.The SPT recommends that the Maldivian authorities examine the possibility to establish such an information system [containing information on the type of the complaints lodged and the outcome of the investigations and possible sanctions imposed]. 303.The SPT recommends that the police officers and other staff members working in the police stations and police detention facilities are provided with adequate training for work in custodial settings. 304.The SPT recommends that the authorities ensure effective oversight and supervision of the work of police officers by senior officials and superior authorities. 305.The SPT recommends that the relevant authorities ensure that the responsibility of any superior officials, whether for direct