The right throughout the period of detention, to ask for the assistance of an interpreter or a lawyer is actually notified, at least in a formal way; however the inspectors have noted the right to contact a lawyer of their choice or the legal aid office is sometimes considerably reduced or even impossible. In a detention centre in the Paris area, the telephone number provided to detainees was the Administration Department of the local Bar Order and not the lawyer in the legal aid office. When the inspectors dialled this number, the administration let them know that it was not authorised to provide the contact numbers of a lawyer to individuals even though it related to the legal aid office and whatever the situation (expiry of a time limit for appeal has been mentioned). In that same institution, the list of the Bar lawyers was not posted. As for the right to claim the assistance of a professional interpreter 125 it has appeared in all of the institutions inspected very theoretical whether in relation to the various notifications or the intervention of OFII agents or employees of legal assistance associations. If need be, the latter use "networks" of staff and volunteers and even other detainees. Detainees do not directly ask for interpreters, even at their own cost. No list is posted. Autonomy can only be exercised where an individual is not given the opportunity of speaking with their contacts. The CGLPL considers it essential that an interpreter is used when a detainee cannot understand French. Moreover to ensure that this interpreter is provided, use of a co-detainee should be avoided whenever possible. A professional interpreter is always to be preferred. Failing this, members of an association or close relations chosen by the detainee should be involved. When it comes to preparing for their departure or their opposition to it, detainees are strictly dependent on aid bodies present within the CRAs. In practice, the OFII and approved associations offices are open during the week but not over the weekend. Persons placed in a CRA on a Friday evening, Saturday or Sunday are therefore particularly injured parties in that they cannot benefit from access to the law. The OFII can, in principle, come to the aid of detainees in contacting their family or recovering baggage and money. In practice, the inspectors noted that the field of action by this body is often limited. In one of the centres, it is possible for the OFII to travel over 50 km and to receive more than €80 per task. Its activity actually consists basically in supplying tobacco and newspapers to detainees. The CGLPL notes that these restrictions are contrary to Article R. 553-13 of the CESEDA which provides that the OFII is responsible for helping foreign nationals to prepare the physical aspects of the departure in particular in relation to recovering the baggage of detainees and carrying out administrative formalities. No restriction in relation to access to the OFII or associations' offices is provided for by internal regulations. However, the inspectors have found that these vary greatly from institution to institution. In some centres, these bodies are freely accessible subject to opening times whereas in others their access is subject to a police officer taking part under conditions which are not clearly defined. According to information collected at the time of inspections, police officers would not always be aware of the urgent nature of some procedures, which are bound up in very 125 This right is provided for by Article R. 553-11: "The administration is to make available an interpreter to foreign nationals held in a centre or in a place of detention of illegal immigrants who cannot understand French solely in the context of procedures for non-admission and deportation to which they are subject. In other cases, payment of service providers is to be made by the foreign national..." 147