3XEOLFDWLRQRI&37YLVLWUHSRUWV Report on the periodic visit to Turkey in June 2009 and response of the Turkish authorities (treatment of persons detained by law enforcement agencies, the situation of immigration detainees and prison conditions) 50. The CPT’s delegation interviewed, in various parts of the country, a large number of persons who were or had recently been detained by law enforcement agencies. The great majority of them indicated that they had been treated correctly whilst in custody, confirming the positive trend observed by the Committee in recent years. Nevertheless, a number of persons did make allegations of recent illtreatment, mainly of excessive use of force at the time of apprehension but also in some cases of physical ill-treatment, threats or verbal abuse during police questioning. Most of these allegations were received in the Diyarbakir area. In response to specific recommendations made by the CPT, the Turkish authorities indicate that they have issued a detailed circular to all central and provincial police units, emphasising the need to avoid ill-treatment and excessive use of force. They also refer to steps taken to strengthen fundamental safeguards against ill-treatment of persons detained by law enforcement officials. 51. Particular attention was paid during the 2009 visit to the situation of immigration detainees. The delegation found major shortcomings in several of the detention centres visited, in particular at Ağrı and Edirne (severe overcrowding, dilapidated conditions, limited access to natural light, poor hygiene, lack of access to outdoor exercise). The visit report also highlights that the detainees were being deprived of their liberty without benefiting from basic legal safeguards. Shortly after the visit, the Turkish authorities informed the CPT that the unit for male adult detainees at Edirne – which was heavily criticised by the delegation in its end-of-visit preliminary observations – had been withdrawn from service. In their response to the report, the authorities provide additional information concerning measures being taken to improve the situation of immigration detainees; in particular, they refer to plans to construct several regional detention centres for foreigners, to replace many of the establishments currently in use.