demonstrated. In three cases, detainees’ reports suggested the use of torture by the police: • beating a detainee, beating and kicking a handcuffed detainee who was pushed and was lying on the floor; • beating a detainee pushed to the floor by seven police officers; the detainee had to keep his hands on his head, was hit on the lumbar area and on the face. He was told to kneel down and threatened that if he falls on the ground he would be hit. He was taken to hospital but before he was told to carefully wash away the blood. The detainee demanded a medical examination but the police refused. • putting on a plastic bag on a detainee’s head and beating him on the feet with a baton. In the context of the case of Igor Stachowiak the Committee recommended reminding all police officers of the instructions to be followed when using electroshock guns. The Committee stressed that such guns may only be used by officers in the case of real and immediate risk of serious injury or risk to life. The use of such weapons solely to make sure that a detainee follows orders is unacceptable. Furthermore, the use of an electroshock gun should be permitted only when less severe coercive measures are ineffective or impractical, and if it constitutes the only alternative to using a method that entails a higher risk of injury or death (e.g. firearms). As regards police emergency facilities for minors, the Committee noted that the presence of a police officer during a minor’s meeting with a lawyer constituted a violation of the right to defence. With regard to closed detention centres for migrants, the CPT report indicated, among others, that medical examinations of newly placed migrants should also include the process of identification of victims torture. The treatment of prisoners by Prison Service officers has been assessed positively. Few prisoners mentioned being verbally insulted. The Committee appreciated the efforts aimed at reducing the overcrowding of penitentiary facilities. Yet, it was disappointed by the unchanged standard of floor space per prisoner. The Committee also took note of the reform that included the 18 PART II – how does the NMPT work?