sprayed). In general, the Federal Ministry of the Interior stated that the
baths at the Linz police detention centre are in a condition that reflects
their age. The bath at Station A has already been closed due to its
wretched condition. Moreover, the Ministry intends to eliminate
existing defects in the course of a planned total renovation of the Linz
police detention centre. Furthermore, the Federal Ministry of the Interior
confirmed that the cells at the Linz police detention centre only have a
cold water line. No change will be made until the planned total
renovation. However, the prisoners at the Linz police detention centre
will be given daily access to restroom sinks with warm water
connections for the purpose of washing their bodies.
On the positive side, it should be noted that both day cells at Stations
A and D of the Linz police detention centre have television sets.
Following criticism by the NPM regarding the limited recreational
opportunities for prisoners, the police department of Upper Austria
provided an additional television set for Station B. In view of the
recreational situation at the Linz police detention centre, about which
the commission has made a general complaint, the NPM welcomes
this measure.
Television sets for
prisoners
At the suggestion of the NPM, the police department of Upper Austria
conducted an evaluation of the personnel situation and ordered the
secondment of three employees to the Linz police detention centre.
The NPM considers this measure – which will hopefully be in effect
over the long term – to be very important in order to improve the
personnel situation at the Linz police detention centre, particularly the
understaffing of the centre mentioned by the employees.
Improvement in the
personnel situation
The Linz police detention centre must be cleaned regularly and at proper intervals.
The showers must be checked regularly (particularly the direction in which the shower water
sprays) and repaired, if necessary (replacement of shower heads).
The prisoners must be given daily access to restroom sinks with warm water connections.
2.6.6
Positive findings
The Vordernberg detention centre is a modern facility for detention pending forced
return
In the opinion of the NPM, the construction of the Vordernberg
detention centre, which was placed into operation in February 2014,
was a success. The commission was most impressed by the spacious
architectural design and the fixtures and fittings for the building. In
many ways, the commission recognised the efforts of the Federal
Ministry of the Interior to design and organise detention pending
forced return in accordance with modern standards that protect
human rights (e.g. placement into large, well-designed residential
131
Modern facility for
detention pending
forced return
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