&37*HQHUDO5HSRUW In their response, the Polish authorities refer to instructions given to senior police officers in the regional command offices. They also mention training on practical aspects of the protection of human rights. As for the two specific cases referred to in the CPT’s report, the investigations opened by the competent Prosecutors’ Offices had subsequently been discontinued. 44. Prison overcrowding remained a problem. The CPT notes in its report the refurbishment and expansion projects concerning various prisons and the increased resort to alternatives to imprisonment, including the entry into force of legislation introducing a system of electronic surveillance; the Committee encourages the Polish authorities to pursue their efforts in this direction. Further, the Committee recommends once again that the authorities review the norms fixed by legislation to ensure that all prisoners are provided with at least 4 m² of living space in multioccupancy cells. Hardly any allegations of ill-treatment of prisoners by staff were received in the prisons visited and at Rawicz Prison in particular, the delegation observed that relations between staff and inmates were positive. It is also noteworthy that at Rawicz Prison, the balance of work, education and therapeutic activities offered an excellent menu to address the needs of almost all categories of prisoners. However, in the other establishments visited, the regime provided to inmates was unsatisfactory. As regards in particular remand prisoners, they were locked in their cells 23 hours a day and the almost total lack of activities combined with limited living space, poor material conditions and restrictions on contact with the outside world and association produced a regime which was oppressive and stultifying. In their response, the Polish authorities undertake to involve more inmates in organised activities. 45. Several concerns are raised in the report about recent legislation making provision for the compulsory pharmacological treatment of sex offenders. The CPT notes that the legislation – which entered into force in June 2010 – contains a number of shortcomings, such as the lack of a possibility for the persons concerned to request an independent expert opinion and the absence of periodic reviews of the measure. Further, it became apparent during the visit that that there was a lack of clarity concerning the implementation of the new legislation. The CPT makes detailed recommendations spelling out safeguards that should be introduced through a revision of the legislation. Above all, as should be the case before starting any medical treatment, the free and informed consent of the person concerned should be obtained prior to the commencement of anti-androgen treatment.