On receiving these testimonies shedding light upon an inhuman and degrading treatment,
the Contrôleur général referred the matter to the head of the detention centre for illegal
immigrants. In the days that followed, a meeting for consultation took place under the aegis of
the head of the prefect’s private office, leading to the adoption of the following measures:
- the bringing into service of a shower in a closed area on the ground floor of the CRA;
- the issuing of disposable protective clothing to police personnel;
- the possibility of calling upon health personnel to intervene and persuade the detainee to take a
shower;
- training of police professionals in the management of detainees presenting severe behavioural
disorders;
- closer relations with other CRAs with a view to identifying measures taken for the management
of similar events.
In view of his preventive duties, the Contrôleur général considered that these measures
are likely to protect the right to privacy and dignity of detained persons in the future. However,
he will not fail to check these factors at the time of follow-up inspections.
1.6 The Prohibition on the Sale of Coffee in Prison Shops
Request for the withdrawal of the prohibition on the sale of coffee in prison
shops in remand prisons.
On 22nd June 2012, the Contrôleur général called the attention of the director of the
prisons administration department to the note of 1986 prohibiting the sale of coffee in remand
prisons. He considered that this prohibition was not justified in view of the sale of other
products in prison shops that may present characteristics similar to those of coffee, such as CocaCola™ for example.
On 3rd July 2012, a reply from the director of the prisons administration department
informed the Contrôleur général that, in view of the case made by the latter, it had been decided
to abrogate the note and that this abrogation was to come into force within an allowed time of
three months, that is to say in October 2012.
However, at the time of drafting of this report in December 2012, the Inspector has not
been informed of the possibility for prisoners in remand prisons to actually buy coffee in prison
shops. He will therefore continue to carefully verify this possibility during the next inspections
conducted in remand prisons.
At the time of various replies to reports handed over by the Contrôleur général, the
Minister of Justice announced that “reflections [were] in course” on three subjects about which
the Contrôleur général has already spoken at length in various annual reports:
- the size of prisons 181;
- the presentation of the payslips of prisoners who work 182;
- the traceability and systematic character of searches 183.
181
See the Annual Report for the year 2010 of the CGLPL available at www.cglpl.fr.
See the Annual Report for the year 2011 of the CGLPL available at www.cglpl.fr
183
See the Annual Report for the year 2011 of the CGLPL available at www.cglpl.fr
182
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