72 9. Persons deprived of their liberty at the places of detention visited by the NPM head of the company group composed of the corporations of the penitentiary system to take action in order to ensure protective equipment in compliance with the regulations as well as recreational and dining rooms suitable for the consumption of civilised meals, and hygienic sanitary units. Line officers were struggling with a vacancy of 12.5%, due to which they had to cope with a high number of detainees per person and overwork. I called attention to the fact that unfavourable working conditions, especially the heavy workload of the employees could impact the execution of their everyday tasks, the staff ’s attitude towards the detainees, as well as the successful prevention of violence between the detainees. I proposed that the warden take action in order to fill vacant positions with a view to alleviating the workload of the personnel. Based on the accounts of the detainees, there was a lot of tension within the Prison, which provoked conflicts and occasionally physical acts of violence. Regarding the behaviour of the staff vis-à-vis the detainees, I was informed about racist comments, other forms of verbal abuse, and physical ill-treatment. I requested that the warden take action to prevent physical aggression between the detainees and eliminate racist behaviour among the members of the staff. I asked that he take action against the inappropriate, occasionally violent behaviour of the officers and ensure the proper investigation of disciplinary offences and the professionally adequate execution of disciplinary proceedings. 9.2.2. Unit I of the Budapest Remand Prison159 On its visit to Unit I of the Budapest Remand Prison, the NPM was joined by the SPT’s delegation visiting Hungary.160 At the time of the visit, the Budapest Remand Prison had 258 detainees for 158 authorised places, which means that the utilisation rate was 168%. One of the custodial officers stayed within hearing distance and was taking notes throughout the interviews conducted with the detainees and the members of the staff. The visiting delegation was obliged to warn the notetaking guard repeatedly to go further away. Due to the above, numerous interviews were conducted in a rather tense atmosphere, and the requirement of confidentiality could not be observed. I asked the Director General of the Hungarian Prison Service to call the attention of the commanders and personnel of penitentiary institutions to comply fully with their obligations to cooperate with a view to the efficient performance of the NPM’s tasks. 159 160 Report No. AJB-501/2018. SPT Visit to Hungary 21–30 March 2017: Conclusions and Recommendations for the National Preventive Mechanism(Clauses 43-48 of CAT/OP/HUN/R.2).

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