CAT/OP/BRA/1 with, the number of individuals sentenced under the crime of torture. 22 Individuals interviewed by the SPT did not expect that justice would be done or that their situation would be considered by state institutions. 53. The SPT recommends that all allegations of torture and ill-treatment be thoroughly investigated as a matter of routine and that perpetrators be held accountable for their actions. The State party should issue a strong condemnation, at the highest level of authority, declaring that torture will not be tolerated under any circumstances. This message of “zero tolerance” of torture and ill-treatment should be delivered at regular intervals to all security forces and custodial staff, including through professional training. 54. The SPT learned that police ombudpersons (“Ouvidorías”) and internal affairs units (“Corregedorías”) did not have their own investigative capacity and relied on inquiries conducted by the police, including in cases of alleged torture. This institutional arrangement may prevent impartial inquiries and contribute to impunity. 55. The SPT recommends that the integrity of the work of ombudspersons and internal affairs units be guaranteed by strengthening their independence and providing them with an effective investigative capacity. E. Corruption 56. The SPT was seriously concerned about the numerous and consistent allegations of corruption received. Examples included detainees bribing policemen 10,000 Brazilian reais to be freed; police officers stealing evidence; detainees paying bribes in order to satisfy basic needs, such as a sunbath; relatives having to pay in order to be able to visit detainees; payments for protection, etc. The SPT received allegations that some people were being held in a police facility pending their payment of a bribe in order to be transferred to a pretrial detention facility. 57. In addition, corruption was evidenced by the almost complete control of certain places of detention by organised criminal groups. Inadequate police salaries have been cited as one of the root causes of corruption.23 58. The SPT recommends: (a) The adoption and implementation by the highest police and prison authorities of a firm and transparent “zero tolerance” policy towards corruption. (b) The training of police and prison officers and the review of wages to police and prison personnel. (c) The adoption of measures to improve public scrutiny by civil society as a means of increasing accountability. (d) The execution of campaigns to sensitize staff and the general public to the need to combat corruption in places of detention and to make them aware of the adverse consequences of corruption. 22 23 10 Pursuant to information provided by the State party after the visit, in April 2011 there were 160 persons charged with the crime of torture out of a prison population of 512,000. A/HRC/14/24/Add.4, paras. 35-39.