DOC/OS(XXXIII)/324c/I 42 are often in extreme bad conditions of hygiene, not having been able either to sleep or eat properly, nor having had the possibility to wash or change their clothes. The delegation heard a certain number of allegations of ill treatment of prisoners at the hands of the forces of the law and order. Most of these allegations were against the police. Furthermore, the delegation collected information from other sources regarding ill treatment inflicted by the police. The allegations heard referred mainly to the period of questioning and interrogation but also during detention. A number of the allegations made related to periods prior to the visit of the Special Rapporteur. However, the scars caused by the alleged forms of ill treatment had not disappeared in the meantime. The delegation, and specially the doctor which was part of it found that 15 prisoners in Grootfontein prison had scars on their backs, torsos, legs, hands and forearms that were compatible with their allegations of having been violently beaten up with truncheons, whipped while naked, and bound hand and foot by the special forces of the Katima police, not receiving any medical treatment afterwards. Added to this, they had been deprived of food and water for three days. It was after a visit of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) that they were taken to hospital, on the 18th of August 1999, or 16 days after their arrest. Furthermore, the prisoners on remand in Grootfontein informed the Special Rapporteur that three persons who had been arrested with them were missing. Their whereabouts is nor known either by the prisoners who made the allegation of by those who have gone missing. The Special Rapporteur has the names of these people. Some prisoners of Windhoek central police station complained of having been chained to bars in the courtyard during 3 and 6 days respectively, and also in their cell. An elderly detainee at Ondangwa police station is alleged to have been beaten up by the police and of having lost several teeth at the time. Prisoners at Rundu police station complained of having been beaten and insulted, particularly during interrogation, and of being forced to sign confessions. Prisoners at Mariental police station stated that certain staff members at the station agreed to provide services for them after 5:00 pm in return for money. The information which the Special Rapporteur came across demonstrates that the Namibian authorities must pursue their efforts to combat ill treatment from members of the forces of order, particularly the police. The best possible guarantee against ill treatment is the unequivocal rejection of such procedures by members of the forces of order. This implies that strict selection criteria must be applied when recruiting personnel as well as appropriate professional training. Human rights principles must be integrated in practical professional training in the management of high-risk situations, such as questioning, interrogation and management of persons in detention and those with difficult behaviour. This approach would be more effective than giving separate courses on human rights. It should be noted that all the members of the forces of law and order — at all the levels of hierarchy — should receive continuous professional training. The Special Rapporteur wishes to mention the initiative of W.D. Steenkamp, police commissioner at Mariental police station, which started when he took up his position, three months prior to the visit of the Rapporteur. This initiative is sufficiently unusual to be noted. Mr W.D. Steenkamp assembles his staff once a week to speak to them about the manner in which they should behave towards the prisoners. On the whole, this officer gave the Special Rapporteur a good impression, as he appears to be trying to reform practices at the police station with regard to the treatment of prisoners on remand and convicted prisoners. There is however still a lot to be done.