34 THE GREEK OMBUDSMAN medical care and that access to health care is given at the request of detainees’, who are transferred to the island’s hospital, if it is deemed necessary. In specific, we were informed that there were new requests for out-patient doctor’s appointments with a gastroenterologist and a psychiatrist, which can be serviced by local health care providers after one week. In conclusion: • The usual practice of using the police station cells of the island’s capital as a gathering point for persons awaiting return or readmission to Turkey was observed in this case as well. • Detention spaces are neglected, disorganized and relatively dirty, in sum unsuitable for long term detention. Disinfestations do not appear to suffice, which aggravates detainees’ reaction. The toilet condition is generally poor and repair is required. It is accentuated that several of the detainees held at the day of the inspection were being held for over on moth (since 25.7.17). • Care should be taken in order to satisfy medical examination requests sooner, while the quality the meals provided should be examined as well. The yard space function should be restored, as the waiting room does not cover the yard time requirements, being a closed space. Finally, prolonged detention with no access to recreation or other activity creates strong psychological pressure for detainees. Police Station cells of Petroupoli (12th December 2017) The detention space is located in the basement of the Police Station, which is on a main street inside the city. Stairs to the basement end to a locked iron door, from which extends a corridor with lockers for prisoners’ personal items. At the end of the corridor there is a toilet on the left and a vertical smaller corridor, along which there are two halls facing the staircase. At the ceiling of the small corridor there is a small hatch (skylight) which, as we were explained, has been characterized as a potential escape way. For this reason, the halls remain under constant lock and access to the toilet is not unhindered. Besides this small hatch, there is no other natural lighting or ventilation. Halls lack electric power and all light comes from a small bulb at the small corridor, resulting in halls being especially dark. Every hall holds three (3) built-in beds. Heat is provided by a small stove in the small corridor. Smoking is prohibited for safety reasons. In conclusion: The space is judged as unsuitable for detention for more than a few hours. Lack of free access to the toilet, lack of yard space, natural ventilation and lighting, insufficient hygiene, infringes detainees’ fundamental rights. Holding detainees in this space violates article 3 of ECHR and constitutes inhuman