The cell was very dirty and had a pungent scent, most probably from the heap of sand in a corner of the room, which was used as urinal. The SR inquired if a receptacle could not be used for the purpose for which the sand had been dumped in the corner, but there was no satisfactory answer. Brigade Nationale de Gendarmerie of Akpro Misserete - here were pictures on the walls at this station warning against violations of human rights and reminding officers not to keep detainees beyond 48 hours without an order from a magistrate. Magistrates themselves do not have the authority to order anyone to be detained beyond six months. T It was noteworthy that the detention centre of the station was part of the area where the gendarmes work, a very liberal regime. Dangerous detainees were transferred to the gendarmerie at Porto Novo. According to the records, 9 August 1999 was the last date on which a suspect was detained at the station. Porto Novo Civil Prison B uilt in 1892, it was renovated in 1996. But it had cracks, which explain the construction of a new prison to which we shall return. Mr. F. B. Fanou was the Director. Basic Statistics Built for 300 it housed 603 prisoners. Men 575 Women 15, some of whom had 3 young children with them Juveniles 13 out of whom 3 were girls. Longest remand prisoners 12 years Convicts 178 On trial 369 Remand 57 Meals Once a day as below: Monday: Tuesday: Rice, fish and sauce Pasta, fish and sauce 12 Wednesday: Thursday: Friday: Gari and galette (flat bread) Green beans, gari and stew Atazi (rice and beans) Food is also brought in for sale to prisoners. Health The main illness at the time of the visit was chicken pox. There had also been cholera with two fatalities. Scabies, anaemia and tuberculosis are, however, the most common diseases generally. A dispensary stopped functioning on the death of the officer in charge last year. There was a first aid box with medicine, which catered for such ailments as malaria. Serious cases were referred to the hospital. T.B. patients were isolated from the rest of the prisoners. Visits There is no limit to the number of visits an inmate could have, and these were paid between I 0 - 1 p.m. and 3 - 6 p.m. Families bring along with them food for their relatives on these visits. Correspondence As in the case of visits, there is no limit to the number of letters which a prisoner may receive or write. They are however censored. Discipline The prisoners are generally well behaved, and discipline has not therefore been difficult to maintain. There is a cordial relationship between guards and prisoners. Leg irons and handcuffs are used when prisoners are being transferred. In the opinion of the Director, human rights education should be addressed more to the prisoners than to the guards. The latter are already being educated while the prisoners have no such exposure. Human rights posters had been displayed on the walls of the Director's office. Visit of the Premises The yard adjacent to the Director's office had a chapel in which prisoners could worship. Vendors were all over this portion of the prison as over the other yards. 13