EN_CPT_AR.book Page 28 Monday, October 25, 2010 5:14 PM CPT General Report 2009-2010 52. In their response, the Moldovan authorities indicate that public announcements were made to encourage any victims of police ill-treatment in connection with the April events to report their cases to the prosecution service. A number of criminal proceedings have been opened against police officers, including members of the “Fulger” force. Further, a criminal investigation has been initiated against the persons who were serving as Minister of Internal Affairs and Head of the Chişinău General Police Directorate at the time of the events. According to the response, the Moldovan Government is considering the setting up of an independent police complaints agency. At the same time, senior police officers have been instructed to establish the circumstances under which any person detained by the police has sustained injuries. Moreover, in order to ensure better identification, members of the “Fulger” force have been instructed to wear badges and an individual identification number during operations. Report published December 2009, CPT/Inf (2009) 37; response published March 2010, CPT/Inf (2010) 9 Report on the periodic visit to Montenegro in September 2008 and response of the Montenegrin authorities (treatment of persons in police custody, prison overcrowding and conditions in psychiatric/social care establishments) 53. During this first CPT visit to Montenegro as an independent State, the Committee’s delegation received numerous allegations of deliberate physical illtreatment of persons deprived of their liberty by the police and observed, in some cases, physical marks consistent with allegations made. Most of the allegations related to ill-treatment inflicted at the time of questioning. In the report, the CPT welcomes the instructions issued by the Montenegrin authorities shortly after the visit and aimed at remedying the situation found by the delegation; the Committee recommends that a clear and firm message of “zero tolerance” of ill-treatment be delivered from the highest level and through ongoing training to all police officers. Particular attention was paid during the visit to the manner in which investigations were being carried out into cases involving allegations of ill-treatment, and the report concludes that the effectiveness of such investigations needs to be improved. Recommendations are also made aimed at strengthening legal safeguards against ill-treatment. In their response, the Montenegrin authorities place particular emphasis on steps taken to improve training for police officers. Reference is also made to changes introduced to the police complaints and control procedures, including the introduction of external control mechanisms. 28