According to NPM visitors, understanding of one’s rights by the detained in the sobering-up station is a key guarantee against ill-tratment. Representatives of the National Preventive Mechanism recommended the stations at Chełm, Jaworzno and Rzeszów to draw up rules and regulations for the detained, and to place them in a spot visible to everybody, so that the detained could get acquainted with their rights while leaving the sobering-up station. Following these recommendations, heads of the above mentioned stations prepared such rules and regulations and attached them in a spot available to the detained. c) Application of direct coercive measures The Act of 26 October 1982 on the upbringing in sobriety and counteracting alcoholism (Dz. U. of 2007, No. 70, item 473 as amended.) Art. 42. 1. In the case of persons admitted to sobering-up stations and posing a threat to their own life or health, or the life or heath of third persons, destroying items in their immediate surroundings, it is admissible to use physical coercion consisting in holding or immobilising. 2. Holding is a temporary, short-term immobilisation of the person with the use of physical force. 3. Immobilisation consists in longer overpowering of the person with the use of straps, holds, sheets or a straitjacket. 4. Physical coercion may be applied only for as long as the person provides reasons for its use. 5. Being transported and placed at a sobering-up or police station is subject to fees. 5a. Enforcement of receivables specified in paragraph 5 shall be carried out in accordance with provisions on administrative enforcement proceedings. The Ordinance by the Minister of Health of 4 February 2004 on the methods of escorting, admitting and releasing intoxicated individuals and on the organisation of sobering-up stations or other similar stablishments created by a local government unit (Dz. U. of 2004, No. 20, item 192 as amended) § 11. 1. Decision about application/cessation of direct coercion measures shall be made by a physician or by a surgeon after consultation with the head of the shift or with other staff designated by the director of the sobering-up station. 1a. (3) Before application of direct coercion measures leading to immobilisation, objects which may pose a threat to life or health of that person or other persons, shall be taken away from him, especially sharp objects, glasses, denture, belt, braces, shoelaces, matches. 1b. (4) A physician may order application of direct coercion measures consisting in immobilisation for not longer than 4 hours. If needed, the physician after personal examination may extend immobilisation for more periods of 6 hours, however immobilisation may not be applied for longer than 24 hours. 1c. (5) A staff designated by the director of the station shall check the physical status of the immobilised person at least every 15 minutes, also when that person is asleep. 1d. (6) During the check referred to in paragraph 1c, the staff shall: 1) assess if immobilisation is correct, and especially if straps, holds, sheets or straitjacket are not too loose or too tight; 2) ensure a short release from immobilisation to allow the immobilised person to change position or to alleviate his/her physiological or hygienic needs, at least every 4 hours.

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