&37*HQHUDO5HSRUW 9. The same is true with regard to the situation in prisons. The CPT has observed a steady deterioration in the living conditions and treatment of prisoners over the past decade. The Committee has identified a number of fundamental structural issues which serve to undermine attempts to remedy this state of affairs. They include the lack of a strategic plan to manage prisons, which are complex institutions, the absence of an effective system of reporting and supervision, and inadequate management of staff. The CPT has highlighted in its reports the unsuitable material conditions, the absence of an appropriate regime and the poor provision of health care. It has found that due to the totally inadequate staffing levels, effective control within the accommodation areas of some of the prisons visited has progressively been ceded to groups of strong prisoners. All these issues are compounded by the severe overcrowding within most Greek prisons. 10. The Greek authorities have yet to recognise that the prison system as it is currently operating is not able to provide safe and secure custody for inmates. Discussions with the prison administration in Athens indicated a lack of appreciation on their part of the actual situation in the country’s prison establishments. 11. The findings of the 2011 visit confirmed that a regulated prison system, as aspired to in law, has given way to the practice of warehousing prisoners. No action has been taken to implement the CPT’s repeated recommendations to improve the situation in establishments visited as regards living conditions, staffing levels, purposeful activities and aspects of health care, not to mention inter-prisoner violence. Conditions are especially worrying at Amfissa, Korydallos Men’s and Korydallos Women’s Prisons. Even in a new prison such as Domokos, many of the same deficiencies are replicated. 12. The CPT fully recognises the challenge faced by Greece in having to cope with a constant influx of irregular migrants in recent years. It is highly unlikely that this influx will diminish in the near future. It is of crucial importance that the international community – and particularly the European Union – assists the Greek authorities to meet this challenge. However, such support must go hand in hand with a clear demonstration by the Greek authorities of their commitment to redress the current situation. Plans and new laws must be followed up with concrete action to put in place the structural reforms required. A similar commitment by the Greek authorities is necessary for the recovery of the country’s prison system. 13. The CPT’s aim in making this public statement is to motivate and assist the Greek authorities to take decisive action to improve the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty in Greece, in line with the fundamental values to which Greece, as a member State of the Council of Europe and the European Union, has subscribed. In pursuit of that objective and in furtherance of its mandate, the Committee is fully committed to continuing its dialogue with the Greek authorities.