CAT/OP/GBR/ROSP/1 A. Police detention 79. The Subcommittee wishes to put on record that the material conditions of the custody cells in the police establishments visited were generally very good. The Subcommittee commends in particular the cleanliness of the installations, sufficient size of the cells and the adequate provision of food, water and hygiene items. 80. However, the Subcommittee observed a lack of access to natural light in the cells at Bishopsgate Police Station in London and the Central Park North Police Station in Greater Manchester. Moreover, the cells at Liverpool Merseyside Police Station did not have windows. 81. The Subcommittee also notes with concern that access to showers, phone calls and other rights were only provided to detainees upon their request and not as a right. The enjoyment or denial of these rights depended on the availability of staff. While noting that the length of police detention rarely surpasses 24 hours, the Subcommittee notes with concern that most establishments visited were not equipped with exercise yards; where they did exist, they were obviously not used. 82. The Subcommittee recommends that appropriate steps be taken to remedy the inadequacies in police stations and cells, including by improving natural light. 45 The Subcommittee also recommends ensuring the enjoyment of the rights to shower, 46 make phone calls and exercise, on a regular basis.47 83. The Subcommittee notes with appreciation that all police stations visited had closedcircuit television (CCTV) monitoring and that records checked were kept in an accurate manner. 84. The Subcommittee also notes that, in general, persons deprived of their liberty by the police were afforded the safeguards laid down in the code of practice for the detention, treatment and questioning of persons by police officers of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE Code C). 85. The Subcommittee welcomes the regular presence of paramedical staff in police custody. However, it also notes the concerns of both paramedical staff and police officers, with regard to the fact that they have not been trained on how to treat detainees with mental health problems. B. Penitentiary institutions 1. Prolonged use of segregation 86. The Subcommittee is seriously concerned about numerous reports of the prolonged use of segregation in prisons in the United Kingdom.48, 49 In Her Majesty’s Prison Manchester, for instance, the Subcommittee observed first hand that several persons had been segregated for periods of up to two months. The Subcommittee reminds the State party that the Nelson Mandela Rules prohibit the use of prolonged solitary confinement, which refers to a time period in excess of 15 consecutive days.50 87. It further notes that oversight of the use of segregation and safeguards to prevent longterm segregation of prisoners with mental health issues appear to be insufficient. Furthermore, 45 46 47 48 49 50 The Nelson Mandela Rules, rule 14. Ibid., rules 15–16. Ibid., rules 23 and 42. For example, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for England and Wales: Annual Report 2016–17, pp. 25–26; and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for England and Wales: Annual Report 2017–18, p. 26. Independent Monitoring Boards, Annual Report of the Independent Monitoring Board at HMP Whitemoor for the Reporting Year 1 June 2017 to 31 May 2018 (October 2018), p. 13, in particular the reference to prisoners who were segregated for over 100 days and one prisoner who was segregated for 200 days. The Nelson Mandela Rules, rule 44. 15