EN_CPT_AR.book Page 31 Monday, October 25, 2010 5:14 PM
Publication of CPT visit reports
59. The report gives a largely positive assessment of the situation at the two
Migration Board centres visited. Nevertheless, a number of recommendations are
made aimed at improving the provision of health care to immigration detainees.
Further, the CPT expresses concern about the continuing practice of holding certain
immigration detainees on prison premises and, more specifically, in remand
establishments. A prison is by definition not an appropriate place in which to detain
someone who is neither suspected nor convicted of a criminal offence; this is all the
more so when the prison in question is not in a position to provide the persons
concerned with a suitable regime.In their response, the Swedish authorities indicate
that the proposals of an inquiry commission reviewing the legal framework on
detention under the Aliens Act are expected shortly, and that this commission will
also address issues related to provision of health care to detained foreign nationals.
Report published December 2009, CPT/Inf (2009) 34; response published July 2010, CPT/Inf (2010) 18
Report on the periodic visit to Northern Ireland (United
Kingdom) in November/December 2008 and response of the
United Kingdom authorities
(treatment of persons in police custody and in prisons)
60. The report notes the extensive changes in policing over the past decade, and
highlights the fact that the CPT’s delegation received no allegations of ill-treatment
of persons detained by the Police Service for Northern Ireland (PSNI). However, it
makes reference to the necessity to have strict criteria in place for the use of electroshock weapons, which should closely correspond to those governing the use of
firearms. In their response, the authorities refer to the guidelines and training for
police officers currently in place.
61. Formal safeguards against ill-treatment appeared to operate satisfactorily.
However, concerns are raised in the report as to the availability of appropriate
psychiatric care for persons detained by the police; for example, situations where
police officers resort to tying detained persons naked to a chair in order to prevent
acts of self-harm are not acceptable. The CPT also makes recommendations about
medical confidentiality in police stations. The police stations visited were found to
be generally well maintained and clean. Nevertheless, the practice of holding
immigration detainees in police custody suites for up to seven days is criticised; the
CPT recommends that more appropriate facilities be provided for the detention of
such persons.
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