the role of the staf. In addition, the lack of health-care resources is criticised as well as the lack of a systematic medical assessment upon admission and medical confdentiality. More generally, the CPT recommends that irregular migrants no longer be detained in police stations but in the Menoyia Detention Centre which has been specially designed with the intention of meeting their specifc needs. The CPT’s delegation met two unaccompanied minors held in police stations for prolonged periods in conditions akin to solitary confnement. The Committee recommends that unaccompanied children, who are deprived of their liberty as a last resort, only be held in centres designed to cater to their specifc needs, stafed with properly trained men and women and ofering a range of constructive activities. Further, all unaccompanied minors should be provided with a guardian. The CPT also recommends that women with children only be detained in exceptional circumstances, as a last resort and for the shortest possible time, and that the primary carer and the child be accommodated together in a facility catering to their specifc needs. The response from the Cypriot authorities states that detention orders will not be issued to single mothers with children under 8; all minors will undergo medical age assessment tests and will be hosted in suitable establishments or in the care of Social Welfare Services. Information is also provided in respect of the Menoyia Detention Centre. 54. As regards Nicosia Central Prisons, the report calls upon the Cypriot authorities to adopt and implement a coherent strategy to combat overcrowding as the closed part of the prison held 523 inmates for only 324 places. Relations between the staf and prisoners were generally positive. Nevertheless, a few allegations of physical ill-treatment (punches, kicks and baton blows) by staf were received, notably in relation to the ending of a peaceful protest by inmates on 15 August 2013. At the request of the CPT, the authorities initiated an independent investigation into the incident. The report is also critical of the practice of prison ofcers carrying out cell searches wearing hoods and bearing no means of identifcation. As regards the conditions of detention, recommendations are made to ensure that not more than one person is held in a cell of 7m² and that vigorous steps are taken to increase the range of purposeful activities for inmates, particularly for young ofenders and juveniles. In their response, the Cypriot authorities outline the new procedures put in place to tackle the issue of ill-treatment. In relation to juveniles, the authorities highlight the introduction of specifc training for those staf working with juveniles and mixed-gender stafng throughout various areas of the prison. As regards visits, the CPT welcomes the Cypriot authorities’ decision to ofer all prisoners open visits, with closed visits only being imposed for security-related issues. The report also makes recommendations to improve medical screening of newly arrived prisoners, medical confdentiality and the recording of injuries. Further, in the light of the numerous incidents of suicide and self-harm, the report recommends that a comprehensive suicide prevention and management approach be introduced. In their response, the Cypriot authorities state that the requirements for a medical screening examination of every prisoner within 24 hours of arrival and for a single comprehensive healthcare record for each prisoner have been introduced. Additionally, the authorities Publication highlights ► Page 27