Selected publications 51. In this section, a closer look is taken at some of the visit reports and government responses published during the period covered by the General Report. Report on the periodic visit to Cyprus in September/October 2013 and response of the Cypriot authorities (police ill-treatment, immigration detention and the treatment of unaccompanied minors, and prison conditions) 52. The report highlights that the CPT’s delegation received a number of allegations of physical ill-treatment by police ofcers, mostly in respect of foreign nationals. The alleged ill-treatment occurred after apprehension, during transportation or in the context of interviews at a police station; it consisted primarily of slaps, punches and kicks to the head and body. The allegations mainly concerned members of the Immigration and Aliens Police (YAM) and of the Crime Investigation Department (CID) and in a few cases the delegation was able to gather medical evidence that was consistent with the allegations. In addition, a few patients also alleged police ill-treatment during transportation to Athalassa Psychiatric Hospital. The CPT recommended that the Cypriot authorities frmly remind police ofcers that any form of ill-treatment of detained persons was not acceptable and would be punished accordingly. Further, the CPT underlined that where it was deemed essential to handcuf a person at the time of apprehension or during the period of custody, the handcufs should under no circumstances be excessively tight and should be applied only for as long as is strictly necessary. General Report of the CPT, 2013-2014 ► Page 26 The report states that certain safeguards to prevent ill-treatment could be strengthened, notably the right of persons held in police custody to enjoy in practice the possibility to meet and speak in private with a lawyer from the very outset of their deprivation of liberty. Further, with regard to access to a doctor, detained persons should not be systematically handcufed while being transported to a health-care facility and medical confdentiality should be respected. As regards the conditions of detention in police stations, the report criticises the holding of persons for several days or more in police stations designated as suitable for periods of up to 24 hours only. Further, the CPT calls upon the authorities to review the system of remand detention on police premises with a view to substantially reducing its duration (i.e. not beyond four days). The response from the Cypriot authorities outlines action taken, including the creation of a Police Code of Conduct by the police in collaboration with the Ombudsman; an expanded mandate established for, and new instructions issued by, the Attorney General to refne and expedite the procedure to address allegations of police misconduct and to strengthen the investigatory process. 53. As regards foreign nationals detained under aliens legislation, a number of allegations of physical ill-treatment and verbal abuse of detainees by custodial staf at the Menoyia Detention Centre were received. The report refers to allegations of the inappropriate use of tear gas within the Centre and the Cypriot authorities are asked to put in place comprehensive procedures concerning the use of tear gas. Recommendations are also made to reduce the ofcial capacity of the Centre, to introduce a range of purposeful activities and to develop