Report on the periodic visit to Greece in April 2013 and response of the Greek authorities (irregular migrants, prisons and police ill-treatment) 59. The report describes the totally unacceptable conditions in which irregular migrants are held in police establishments all over the country for prolonged periods. For example, at Perama Police Station in Piraeus, two or more women were held for months in a dark, mouldy and dilapidated basement cell measuring a mere 5m² with no access to outdoor exercise or hygiene products. The CPT calls upon the Greek authorities to take urgent steps to transfer detained irregular migrants to specially designed centres and to no longer hold them in police stations. As regards pre-departure centres, the CPT recognises them as a step in the right direction towards creating an immigration detention estate but it is critical of the security approach within these centres which treats detainees in many respects as criminal suspects. The report recommends that, in addition to improving the conditions, much more be done to provide a programme of activities given that many of these persons spend up to 18 months in pre-departure centres. The CPT is particularly critical of the treatment of unaccompanied minors. The reports states that the Amygadelza facility in Athens for unaccompanied minors was run like a police detention facility ofering neither appropriate material conditions nor a supporting environment. It recommends that it no longer be used for the detention of minors. More generally, the report states that the interests of unaccompanied minors should be better protected. General Report of the CPT, 2013-2014 ► Page 30 In their response, the Greek authorities reiterate that police stations are only for short stays and that all necessary measures are being taken to provide conditions in accordance with Greece’s obligations. Updated information is also provided on the development of the Action Plan on Asylum and Migration Management and the steps taken to improve conditions in the pre-departure centres. As regards the Amygdaleza facility for unaccompanied minors, the response states that eforts are being made to improve the material conditions and to provide constructive activities and better support mechanisms for minors. 60. As regards prison establishments, the CPT found that the measures taken to tackle overcrowding have not had a lasting efect. The report notes the cramped conditions of detention in the prisons visited as most of them were operating at between 200 and 300% of their capacity; in some establishments, prisoners had to share beds or sleep on mattresses on the foor. Further, there was a serious lack of hygiene in all the prisons visited. The report also highlights the lack of healthcare staf in prisons and makes several recommendations to improve medical confdentiality, medical screening upon admission and drug treatment in prisons. The report cites the lack of staf in the prisons as impeding eforts to maintain efective control, as stronger groups of prisoners exercise their powers unchecked over other inmates. For example, at Korydallos Men’s Prison, a wing of some 400 inmates was stafed by only two prison ofcers during the day. The insuffcient numbers of prison ofcers made it nearly impossible to provide appropriate activities for prisoners in any of the establishments visited. Overcrowding and lack of staf were primary reasons permitting the bullying and intimidation of juveniles