D. DEVELOPMENTS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE NPM 1. Police: The Ministry of Justice and the Police have taken a range of measures to comply with the recommendations made by the NPM. More specifically, decisions have already been taken on the improvement of material conditions regarding the natural ventilation and the creation of an outdoor exercise area in Detention Centres in all Districts. Furthermore, the competent Ministry and the Chief of Police reaffirmed their firm commitment to the zero-tolerance policy on ill-treatment and their positive attitude towards the Commissioner's recommendations. In addition, the Mechanism is still in close cooperation with the Cyprus Police Academy for the implementation of different educational programmes with the participation of Officers of the Mechanism. 2. Prisons: Issues raised in the previous Reports of the Mechanism on Prisons continue to be closely monitored. The appointment of the new Director of the Prisons Department and the unwavering commitment of the competent Minister to improve the penal institution with particular emphasis on the human rights of detainees have undoubtedly already brought positive results. As has been seen, the Prison’s operating framework is today moving within the guidelines drawn through the Commissioner’s recommendations as NPM, resulting in a notable improvement in the conditions of detention on a series of issues that have been raised in the past. The new policies that have begun to be implemented, mainly on the detainees’ contact with the outside world, prison overcrowding, the treatment of sexual offenders and of persons detained for debt constitute actions towards the right direction. 13