E/CN.4/1999/61/Add.1 page 7 20. Practically all officials reported that the security forces are now working “from the evidence to the suspect” rather than vice-versa. In order to collect evidence in a more professional and scientific manner, the security forces are being especially trained in using the assistance of technologically advanced criminal and forensic laboratories. Also, pilot projects with video-recording of interrogation will soon be expanded and, according to some of the authorities interviewed, they can be useful for disproving unfounded allegations against members of the security forces. Dr. Sema PiÕkinsüt, Head of the Parliamentary Human Rights Commission, underlined the importance of developing a new image of the “good policeman”: one who collects the best body of evidence using modern technology and works as part of a team, and no longer the one who solves the largest number of cases in whatever manner. The Beyo—lu central police station has introduced a standard form on which the statement is taken and on which the suspect is asked whether he would like to have his interview videotaped. During his visit to this police station, however, the Special Rapporteur noticed that video-cameras were not permanent fixtures in the interrogation rooms. 21. The Special Rapporteur visited places of detention in Ankara, Çinar, near Diyarbakir, and Istanbul. In Ankara he visited the places of detention at the Anti-Terror Branch of the Security Directorate; in Çinar the detention centre of the Çinar Jandarma Command Unit; in Istanbul the detention centre of the Beyo—lu central police station and of the Narcotics Department of the Security Directorate. All the cells were standard, although exceptional arrangements may be made in cases of apprehension of a large number of people. For example, in Ankara, in such cases, they are all held in the gym of the Anti-Terror Branch of the Security Directorate and in Istanbul in a basement cell of the Beyo—lu central police station. 22. In the detention centres visited, no punishment cells were noted. The only exception was the Narcotics Department in Istanbul, which has an isolation room with padded dark walls, called “the dark room” by former detainees the Special Rapporteur had met, and officially used for drug addicts during periods of crisis. This cell was completely dark as it had neither a window facing outside nor artificial light. The official explanation for this was that electrical cables inside the cell could be dangerous. The only source of light was a powerful lamp, light from which entered the cell through a small window in the wall of an ante-chamber. The only window facing the exterior in this ante-chamber was completely opaque. Therefore, the ante-chamber and cell together could create an environment of total blackness, exactly as alleged by former detainees. According to an international expert consulted by the Special Rapporteur, this kind of room with its extended sensory deprivation effects (deprivation of light and sound) could have a negative impact on the people there detained. Short-term effects would include hallucinations, memory loss, depression and anxiety. There was also a danger of lasting psychiatric effects. 23. The Special Rapporteur visited the Ankara Central Prison, the E-type prison in Diyarbakir and the Sa—malcilar prison in Istanbul (BayrampaÕa) in order to interview prisoners on remand about their treatment in custody. In Ankara, the Special Rapporteur was not allowed to visit the wards on the grounds that the presence of inmates with psychological problems (depressed or drug addicts) could have been dangerous for his security. Here, a group of