opcat inspections 2011–2014
24
have visited 52 of these, including inspections of all places of police custody
in Stockholm County.
Police detention facilities
The inspections have revealed great differences in terms of the environment
of the police detention facilities, the treatment of inmates, opportunities to
spend time outdoors, information about rights, etc. Some police detention facilities have employed detention officers, some have agreements with security
companies. As opportunities to spend time outdoors and information about
rights are discussed in the next chapter, these themes are omitted here.
Aside from the statements in inspection records and in the decisions concerning three enquiries, the prioritisation of police detention facilities has resulted in continuous dialogue with the Police Authority and the unit responsible
for detention facilities.
Of the 52 OPCAT inspections of police detention facilities, more than half
have resulted in various statements. A selection of the observations is reported here.
The training of cell guards with respect to the inmates’ state of health2
OPCAT inspections of police detention facilities always contain an element
concerning the training that cell block personnel and police officers have. It is
noteworthy that the police service has not previously begun an effort to improve the expertise of cell guards, and future efforts will be monitored during
inspections and on other occasions.
In several decisions, the ombudsmen have emphasised the great responsibility that detention facility personnel (police officers and detention officers),
inspectors and police commanders, in various respects, have for the inmates’
state of health. Among other things, the ombudsmen have pointed out how
important it is for cell guards to receive adequate training about confusable
diseases. The enquiry initiated by the ombudsmen into the training etc. of
cell guards showed that the police service is currently working to improve the
expertise of cell guards and others with respect to their ability to assess the
inmates’ state of health and to take the necessary action.
Risks in connection with camera surveillance3
OPCAT inspections have shown there is a risk that women may be searched in
front of a surveillance camera.
In response to the finding that female inmates in some police detention facilities may be searched in front of surveillance cameras, the ombudsmen have
emphasised the following:
2 Ref. no. 808-2014
3 Ref. no. 4111-2013, ref. no. 5260-2013, ref. no. 626-2014
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