The phenomena of intimidation and reprisals: a major challenge for the CPT’s work 41. Over the 25 years of its existence, the CPT, like other anti-torture bodies, has on occasion faced attempts to hamper its work through the targeting of those very persons whose situation it is meant to improve. Paradoxically, the more its work is perceived as effective, the more detained persons may be at risk of intimidation before or during visits or reprisals after visits. The CPT has observed a direct correlation between the prevalence of ill-treatment in a given place and the risks of intimidation and reprisals inmates actually face. It is also clear that a potential victim of ill-treatment who has little or no opportunity to seek redress faces greater risks of intimidation or retaliatory action when entering into direct contact with the CPT. 42. The phenomena of intimidation and reprisals have been encountered in different types of establishments (i.e. police detention facilities, prisons, detention centres for foreigners, psychiatric establishments), and have been described by the CPT in the published reports on its visits to a number of countries, including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Greece, Hungary, the Republic of Moldova, the Russian Federation, Spain, “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” and Ukraine. The CPT has come across various forms of threats or action, such as undue restrictions on basic entitlements, solitary confinement for fabricated disciplinary or security reasons, transfer or placement in less favourable conditions of detention, withdrawal of support for (early) release, and assaults or other ill-treatment by or at the instigation of public officials. This phenomenon can affect a large group of inmates at a time, in the form of collective intimidation or punishment, include direct pressure on relatives or concern members of staff suspected of having revealed information about reprehensible behaviour by colleagues. 43. Despite understandable fears of reprisal, many detained persons interviewed by CPT delegations during ­visits have shown considerable courage in describing the reality of what has happened to them. By doing so, they have enormously helped the Committee to obtain significant results in preventing and combating torture and other forms of ill-treatment in places of deprivation of liberty, sometimes at great cost to themselves. They should never be left without protection and their contribution should be positively recognised by the national authorities. Likewise, public officials who have acted as “whistle-blowers” during CPT visits should also be strongly supported and protected. ► Page 21