A/HRC/16/52/Add.4 37. The Special Rapporteur welcomes the Government’s plans to establish a bureau within either the Ministry of Citizen’s Protection or the Ministry of Interior to examine police misconduct. As of October 2010, a Bill had yet to be submitted to Parliament. However, the Special Rapporteur emphasizes that a totally independent police complaint body with full investigative powers under a ministry different than the Ministry of Citizen’s Protection is needed as already highlighted by the Greek National Commission for Human Rights. D. 1. Conditions of detention Facilities under the authority of the Ministry of Citizen’s Protection: Migrants and refugees 38. The Special Rapporteur notes with concern the systematic detention of aliens upon arrival in Greece. Furthermore, in Athens, he saw many aliens who were arrested on the suspicion of a criminal offence then being held under administrative detention by the police for not possessing valid papers after the dismissal of the case by the prosecutor or the court. This includes those migrants or refugees who cannot be deported for factual or legal reasons. 39. Very often the detainees were not informed of the grounds and length of their detention. The length of detention was felt to be dependent on the nationality of aliens. While aliens who cannot be deported (e.g. from Afghanistan, Somalia, Pakistan) were usually released within several days with an order to leave the country within 30 days, those who can most often be deported frequently had to wait up to several months in police custody. This created a feeling of extreme injustice and discrimination among the detainees. 40. It has been reported to be extremely difficult for aliens to challenge their detention as there is no regular automatic judicial review. The absence of interpreters and legal aid reportedly make it practically impossible to complain before an administrative court. 41. The Special Rapporteur found the conditions of detention in police stations, CID, border-guard stations and migration detention centres to be very poor throughout the country. (See appendix for detailed descriptions of all detention facilities visited) 42. In police custody he almost exclusively came across foreign nationals. While some were detained on suspicion of a criminal offence, most were held under administrative detention. In fact, it appeared that many police stations, in particular in Athens, have been converted into facilities for detention awaiting deportation. The detained aliens were frequently held in police cells not designed for prolonged detention for up to six months. They neither provided any meaningful activities nor access to outside exercise and fresh air. The cells were often overcrowded forcing detainees to share mattresses or sleep on the floor. They frequently provided insufficient natural lighting and poor ventilation. Although many police stations have been freshly painted and cleaned before the visit, many detainees complained about the lack of cleaning, and the beds and sanitary installations were often unhygienic. As a result of the poor conditions many people had respiratory, skin as well as psychological problems. Access to medical care was very limited. Many detainees complained that they had no access to a doctor and even upon specific request were denied to be brought to a hospital. They further complained about lacking access to phones and visitors. Thus, some detainees were very worried that they could not inform their relatives and friends of their whereabouts. The Special Rapporteur witnessed a high degree of frustration among the detainees who mostly did not understand the grounds for or the length of their detention and had no access to lawyers or efficient complaints mechanisms. The conditions of detention were appalling at Venizelos Airport Police Station in Athens, where aliens were primarily held for the possession of false documents when attempting to 11