CUSTODY SUITES WITHIN POLICE DEPARTMENTS • In 2015, the overall condition of the police custody system remained unsatisfactory. Persistent problems associated with overcrowding and lack of service facilities within the custody suites, the provision of food and medical care, keeping detainees informed of their rights, and proper documenting of detentions are still current in most custody suites. • Some recent amendments to the legal framework governing police custody are a positive step towards assuring detainees rights. • However, important issues relating to the provision of medical services in the police custody suites remain unregulated. In 2015, the NPM conducted inspections in eight custody suites run by the Ministry of Interior. The NPM inspection teams visited the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Regional Police Stations (precinct police station) of the Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Interior (MoI RD) in the city of Plovdiv, the military police station in the city of Pleven, the Regional Police Station in the city of Vratsa, the Regional Police Station in the town of Mezdra, The Border Police Station in the town of Elhovo. The NPM welcomes the passing by the Ministry of Interior of the new Guidelines Manual 8121з78/24.01.2015 on making an arrest, the equipment of custody suites and the procedure to be followed there (Инструкция № 8121з-78/24.01.2015 г. за реда за осъществяване на задържане, оборудването на помещенията за настаняване на задържани лица и реда в тях), as they have taken into consideration the recommendations given by the NPM between 2012 and 2014. The NPM acknowledges also the efforts made by the MoI leadership to improve the physical environment and living conditions in some custody suites. The NPM identified repeated problems plaguing the police custody system, such as overcrowding and lack of service facilities within the custody suites, the provision of food and medical care, keeping detainees informed of their rights, and proper documenting of police detentions. Unfortunately, other recommendations previously made by the NPM have remained unfulfilled. The interactions between the MoH and MoI with regard to the provision of medical care in police custody suites remain unregulated. The procedure for providing medical care laid down in the Guidelines Manual pertains entirely and only to MoI officers. The provisions of the Guidelines Manual, however, fail to regulate in any way whatsoever the duties of MoH staff. The NPM considers that it is worth pointing out the continued lack of efficient oversight by the MoI inspection bodies and the public prosecutors’ offices over the record keeping procedures in those MoI structures that have custody suites or holding cells. In many of the police stations visited by the NPM the existing inspection logs contained no entries of inspections made, infractions identified, and instructions given on compliance with statutory requirements. This report was authored by: Lyubomur Krilchev Svilena Ignatova Dr. Mariana Patrikova Ivelina Velkova Gergana Georgieva Stephania Betova 79