FEDERAL POLICE AND CUSTOMS AUTHORITIES trusted third party. Rather, it must be made clear to them that access to legal advice constitutes a separate right. These rights are accorded to those in custody without regard to the legal grounds for their being taken into custody. When such information has been provided, this fact should, further, be recorded in the police custody book so that officers can see clearly after a shift change-over when this information has not been provided for a specific reason. Response: A standardised sheet is currently being produced and translated into 46 languages. Afterwards it will be made available in the Federal Police’s electronic custody procedure system; it is envisaged that this work will be completed in the first quarter of 2014. Agency that detainees were sometimes addressed in a harsh tone of voice by some of the officers during hearings conducted by the Federal Police and the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees. This had an unsettling effect and caused those concerned unnecessary stress. However, the advisory services were also aware of cases in which interpreters had taken sides and overstepped their remit. For example, some people had reported that they had been put under pressure by interpreters when describing their transit routes. Detainees should always be dealt with humanely and in a culturally sensitive manner during the required questioning. This applies in particular to hearings conducted by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, since they form the basis for a subsequent decision on whether asylum will be granted or not. Cooperation between the Federal Police and other agencies During its visit to Frankfurt am Main Airport V Federal Police Regional Office, the Federal Agency took part in the Joint Commission’s inspection visit to the Hesse Reception Centre for Refugees, which is also located at the airport. The representatives of the church advisory services explicitly praised the Federal Police’s cooperation and responsiveness. However, they also reported individual cases in which in their opinion better coordination between the facility’s staff, the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees and the Federal Police could have avoided specific individuals suffering personal hardship. This applied, for example, to communicating the outcome of the physical and psychological/psychiatric examination, which might have an influence on whether a detainee is returned and on the timing of the forced return. The church advisory services therefore suggested that the Federal Police take part in the regular monthly meetings that were being held. These meetings are used to exchange relevant information about individual returnees. In the interests of the decent treatment of asylumseekers and other affected groups of people, the Federal Agency feels it is necessary for those involved (specifically the Federal Police and the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees) to network more effectively and share information promptly. During the final meeting the deputy head of the Federal Police Directorate promised the Federal Agency that it would discuss whether it would in future take part in these meetings. 1.2 – ACCOMPANYING FORCED RETURNS In 2013 the Federal Agency accompanied two forced return measures, one of which was carried out by Frontex. 1.2.1 – Düsseldorf to Skopje and Belgrade On 5 March 2013 the Federal Agency accompanied a forced return procedure carried out by the Federal Police during which detainees were taken from Düsseldorf Airport to Skopje and Belgrade. The measure was organised jointly by the German authorities and Frontex. The Federal Agency monitored the entire forced return procedure, from when the returnees were brought in to when they were handed over to the authorities at their destination. It also held a meeting with the deportation monitor at Düsseldorf Airport on this occasion. The Federal Police have their own rooms at Düsseldorf Airport in which collective returns are processed. The airport procedure is described in II.1.6. The measure involved the forced return of 89 people from Germany. They were accompanied by 39 officers. In addition, 17 people were also returned from Sweden and 10 from Finland, accompanied by officers from those respective countries. During the flight to Skopje, which lasted around two hours, the airline provided its standard service, i.e. drinks and a snack. Drinks and a snack were also served during the around one-hour connecting flight to Belgrade. Sufficient meals were therefore provided to the returnees throughout the entire procedure. A doctor and an interpreter were on hand throughout the entire procedure. The deportation monitor from Diakonie Rheinland (the Rhineland Hearings Staff of the church advisory services at the Hesse Reception Centre for Refugees told the Federal 36