ANNUAL SPECIAL REPORT 2017 37 Police Station cells of Igoumenitsa (20th October 2017) The Police Station cells comprise of 2 cells with two built-in beds (of a width 1.5 times a regular bed). The space has little natural light, through high windows (skylights) and there is no yard access. At the day of inspection, one cell was occupied by a foreign national awaiting a hearing with the local public prosecutor. In the second cell 4 foreign nationals were detained, awaiting return. Two of them slept on the same bed and one on a dirty mattress on the floor. Similarly, the other cell had a dirty mattress as well. The space was dirty. We were informed that cleaning the spaces including toilets is assigned exclusively to detainees, and cleaning products provided. The cell is cleaned by cleaning staff only when completely empty of prisoners, which seldom happens. The toilets were also dirty and their plumbing worn out. We were informed that there had been an effort for maintenance of the cells about one year ago, consisting of painting and plumbing repairs, however, due to the continuous flow of prisoners, damages were quick to appear. Women are rarely held at the Police Station and only for a short time, while we were assured that minors are never detained there. The average time of detention for foreign nationals awaiting return is 4-5 days. However, at earlier times there had been larger flows of administratively detained foreign nationals whose detention at the Police Station lasted up to 15 days. Among detainees present at the day of inspection, the longest detention time was of 6 days. During that period, there was a small flow of administratively detained foreign nationals. They usually remain in detention at the Station for one week. Two meals are provided daily and they appear sufficient. There is a water heater and hot water supply. When there is need for medication, a notebook is kept and officers are aware of the medication required for each detainee and the time of administering it. We were informed that usually prisoners on special medication have it with them and the Police Station has an expenditure provision for medication 2 or 3 times a year. If a detainee feels poorly, they are transferred to the Hospital. Blankets are provided, but they are passed on to other detainees without having been washed. The police officers noted that there is an important security issue. In conclusion: • The Police Station cells are only suitable for detention of a few hours, or of one or two days at the most. Detention conditions are poor, and lack of cleanliness is a serious issue. The cells are seldom cleaned, and only if they happen to be empty, and blankets are given to detainees soiled and used by other prisoners. It is a good practice and the Ombudsman