given by the NPM previous years, the inspections in 2014 found that in all places visited
by the NPM observe the established with the express provisions requirement - providing
food to the detainees during their stay, depending on its duration .
The findings of the team of the NPM is that there are different approaches in the
way of providing food. In the BPD - Rousse, the food is provided with catering, but in
most detention facilities the food is purchased from a retailer.
Attention of the NPM during the inspections in 2014 was directed to another
persistent problem, which has not yet been completely removed - the detainees are
provided mainly with dry food - biscuits, croissants, sandwiches, gingerbread. This
practice, according to the NPM, should be discontinued.
The NPM recommends that the Ministry of Interior should review the
quality and quantity of food on calorie standards applied to adults and minors.
During their stay the detainees are not limited by the possibility of obtaining
personal food purchased with their money or by their relatives.
In each object, inspected by the NPM, regulations are prepared and approved in
the premises of the detainees which indicate the hours and time for breakfast, lunch and
dinner, which do not differ from those normally accepted for that hours.
The NPM noticed a progress also in accountability in this area - keeping the
records: for seized, received and spent amounts to / by the detainees (Annex No 7 to Art.
87, pt. 9) and of the visits held and possessions and food received (Annex No 8 to Art. 87,
p. 10 of the Instruction).
Medical care
The NPM found that in the structural units of the MI inspected in 2014 medical
assistance is carried out to detainees in accordance with Art. 20, para 1 and para 2 of the
Instruction. In practice, the requirement of Art. 14, para 1 of the Instruction is met - that
any detainee after arrest is get acquainted and explained its rights, which is reflected in
a declaration - Appendix No 1 to Article 14, para 2 of the Instruction.
The problem that the NPM found during the inspections held in the period 20122014 on the provision of medical care causes serious concern. The last two years the
NPM found differences in the way of provision of medical examinations, which are in
several directions - visits to establishments for accommodation or transportation to the
respective Emergency Medical Assistance Centre (EMAC) or the affiliated medical
emergency units. The examinations may be performed by a paramedic or a physicianspecialist. There are differences also in the completion of the book on medical
examinations – it is expressly stated that the findings of the examinations are to be
completed by the police officer and signed by the medical officer. The procedures for
exercising medical services in relation to the detainees in establishment for
temporary detention in the structural divisions of the Ministry of Interior is not
statutory regulated. There is no agreement between the Ministry of Interior and
the Ministry of Health, which in practice hampers the police officers in the
provision of health care. Here is the question which medical professionals could
carry out examinations of the detainees in the structures of the Ministry of
Interior. In this regard, the conduct of examinations seems to have formal and
superficial character. Normally examinations are carried out by teams of EMAC and their
affiliates in places where routinely measure of blood pressure, temperature, etc. is made.
When needed the police officers provide access to medical professionals in healthcare
institutions, usually in hospitals.
A real example of the need for regulation in this area is the case in 2014, in RDP –
city of Sozopol, where a person was detained that had caused an accident and had used a
significant amount of alcohol. He has been provided a medical examination prior to his
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