immediately if he so wished. Unless there was an order for release or removal to a medical institution, all detained persons had to be brought before a magistrate within 24 hours. Specific instructions about the conduct of interrogations, especially with regard to the first phase, had been issued. Furthermore, any interrogation had to be conducted in the presence of a jUdge and officially recorded. 334. With regard to articles 12 and 13 of the Convention, the representative stated that'disciplinary procedures should normally be completed within a period of 90 days and that provision was made for the suspension of a law enforcement official during the period of the proceedings. Replying to another question, the representative emphasized that only four cases of alleged ill-treatment had been brought to the attention of the European Court of Human Rights. Of those, two had been withdrawn, one had been deemed inadmissible, and in one case no violation had been found. 335. As concerned article 15 of the Convention, the representative explained that article 191 of the new Code of Penal Procedure provided that evidence obtained by illegal methods could not be used in any proceedings. 339, at : 340, refE Pene Dece part exec pena with inte depa the regr offi 341. Concluding observations 336. In concluding the consideration of the initial report of Italy, the Committee expressed its appreciation to the high-level Italian delegation for having engaged in a very fruitful dialogue. Replies had indeed been received to many of the Committee's questions. However, a few questions relating, inter alia, to the organization of the legal system, the new Code of Criminal Procedure and the expulsion or extradition of foreigners remained to be answered or completed in the first supplementary report. The establishment of the Freedom Court and of the Interministerial Committee for Human Rights were considered to be appropriate examples of Italy's commitment to human rights and its international obligations. 337. The Committee nevertheless considered that its concerns had not been fully allayed, especially with regard to the method of integrating international standards into domestic law by way of the Act of Ratification. It observed that consideration should be given by the Italian authorities to the possibility of including a definition of torture in its legislation and making all acts of torture puni.shable by appropriate penalties. Attention should also be given to speeding up domestic remedies. The Committee was concerned at the absence of a system of compensation for victims and it was emphasized that, in accordance with the Convention, the State should be held civilly responsible for the acts of its servants. It was also suggested that special chapters of the Convention be included in the handbooks issued to Italian police personnel and made available to members of the medical profession. 338. Lastly, the Committee said that it had no doubt that torture was not systematically practised in Italy. The various cases referred to during the consideration of the report seemed to be more in the nature of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment than acts of torture within the meaning of the Convention. Nevertheless, the authorities had to deal with such cases energetically and within the statutory limits, and references to measures taken in that respect should be included in the first supplementary report of Italy. -62Digitized by Dag Hammarskjöld Library qual: had; satil legil estal ineo! acqui Cornmi RornaJl regirr attit deten numbe reque organ compe appoi legis of th organ conce polic forme cases 1 342. : reque: expul: 343. I requel compel that I