During the night period of November 6th, a visit was made to the Detention Area of Bela Vista of Public Security Police, in Porto (Bela Vista), in order to verify the habitability conditions, in terms of lighting, isolation against cold or heat, and ventilation of detention areas and, by the same token, the conditions of sanitary facilities and their user-friendliness. Within the visitation it was also checked the detention times and the prisoners’ rights to consult with an attorney, to contact by telephone the defender and to communicate with a relative or with a person of their trust. No prisoner was present. The accommodation spaces were examined, taking especially into account the sanitary facilities, as well as the conditions of safekeeping the personal effects of prisoners. Without remark the register of entries and dispatches was analysed, as well as the register of contacts made with lawyer. As the refurbishment works, foreseen for a long time, had not yet been performed, the bearable conditions of lighting and ventilation remained, without the existence of any device able to protect the prisoners in periods of more extreme temperature. Albeit the state of cleanliness was visibility good, inconsistency in the compliance with the de-cockroach plan was reported. The bedclothes delivered were limited to a blanket, without assuring the respective cleaning when transferred to other users. The food could not be verified, given the time of the visitation and the fact that there were no prisoners, however it was informed that the food is the same that is served to the police personnel. • Visit no. 9-2014 Date: 2014.11.07 Location: Prison facility next to Northern Department of the Judiciary Police Subject: Detention conditions in terms of lighting, insulation against cold or heat, and air circulation; Detention period; Articulation between the Judicial Police and the Directorate General of Prison Services on procedures concerning persons deprived of their liberty On November 7th a visit was conducted to the prison facility next to Northern Department of Judiciary Police, in Porto. The living conditions of places of detention, in terms of lighting, temperature and ventilation, the detention periods, the coordination between Judiciary Police and the Directorate General of Prisons and the and compliance with the limits of maximum detention periods were verified. 20 |