statement of the Federal Government on the CPT’s recommendations on the occasion of its visit from 20 November to 2 December 2005). The detention cells of police stations 11 and The Commission finds here that the deten14 do not have daylight or natural ventila- tion cells of the police stations visited meet tion. Daylight should be taken into account in the (minimum) standard. future, at least with new buildings. The “Guidelines on the Construction of Detention Cells in Service Buildings of the Police” do not yet contain any regulations regarding the installation of windows or natural ventilation. However, such regulations should be taken into consideration should a new version of the Guidelines be brought out. The detention area of the three police stations It was said that section 45 subs. 6 of the should be equipped with fire alarms. Hamburg Construction Code (Hamburgische Bauverordnung) only regulated the fitting of smoke detectors in dwellings. No specific rules for cells and detention areas were known. Also, comprehensive equipment of the detention area did not appear to be necessary since police officers have obligations to monitor persons in detention according to the regulations and on the basis of their status as guarantors. What is more, as a result of the technology partially available in video equipment, further protection was guaranteed. The recommendation would nonetheless be revised. Some of the cells in police station 16 were The Police Service Regulation regulates the very dirty. Stains could be observed on the cleaning of cells as follows: Soiled official walls which made the impression of being facilities and items are to be cleaned by the blood or faeces. The cell walls should also be official cleaning staff (room cleaner of the cleaned after each use where necessary. unit, car cleaner in the car pool) if the facility or item does not require cleaning before this person is due to do so and if waiting is acceptable, an alternative facility is available or an exchange of the item is possible, acceptable and justifiable in terms of time. The units had been informed once more that the cells are to be cleaned more efficiently as far as is possible and as far as can be implemented in the context of everyday running. When looking through the detention documen- In the run-up to the CPT’s visit to Germany 72