Annual report 2011: Spain’s National Preventive Mechanism
supply detainees with
toiletries free of charge.
It has been requested that a
psychological counselling
service be set up at those
establishments that do not
already have one.
The infrastructures at the
EDMs inspected were found
to be adequate
Climate control systems
need to be installed
Fire-fighting systems
evacuation plans,
cleanliness & lighting are
adequate
132
graph 297 of the Annual Report 2010 that the military authorities should supply
such items free of charge to persons deprived of their liberty. A recommendation
has therefore been issued for sufficient funding to the authorised to supply detainees with toiletries free of charge, as provided for in Article 19.3 of Public
General Act 1/1979 of September 26 (the General Prisons Act [Ley General Penitenciaria]), which states that “for reasons of cleanliness, careful personal hygiene
will be required. To that end the authorities will provide inmates free of charge
with daily toiletries and services as necessary”.
111. On the inspection visit to the EDM at San Cristóbal de La Laguna (Santa
Cruz de Tenerife) it was reported that inmates received counselling from a psychologist stationed at the barracks. However, such support is not provided at
other EDMs. The Ombudsman has therefore asked the Ministry of Defence to set
up a psychological counselling service at those establishments that do not already
have one, taking on board one of the conclusions drawn from the 2nd EDM Seminar, where such a service was recommended “given the large number of inmates
who are admitted with psychological problems and need assistance”. The UnderSecretary for Defence reports that the General Inspectorate for Health [Inspección General de Sanidad] has been asked to draw up a report considering the
advisability of setting up psychological counselling services at those centres that
do not already have them.
112. The infrastructures observed at the EDMs visited in 2011 were similar to
those described in the Annual Report 2010, and were found to be adequate. In
regard to the shortcomings detected on the inspection visits made in 2010, it is
reported that changing rooms have been provided for staff at the EDM in San
Fernando (Cadiz) and that the feasibility of installing similar facilities at the
EDMs in Ceuta and Melilla is being considered. Similarly, at the EDM in Ceuta a
study is being conducted into the possibility of providing an area for sports or
having detainees use sports facilities at nearby barracks, pursuant to the the mention of the lack of such facilities made in paragraphs 290 & 299 of the Annual
Report 2010.
113. On the inspection visit to the EDM at San Cristóbal de La Laguna (Santa Cruz de Tenerife) the temperature was not found to be extremely high but
to be in need of assessment and correction, and the establishment had no climate control system. This same shortcoming was mentioned in paragraph 292
of the Annual Report 2010 in regard to the EDMs in Ceuta and Melilla. The
Office of the Head of the General Staff of the Army has asked the Logistics
Division to assess whether air conditioning and heating can be installed at
both these EDMs.
114. Finally, the custodial facilities at these establishments can be considered as
adequate. They all have fire-fighting equipment and evacuation plans and are
clean and well lit, as can be seen in the photos below.
THE OMBUDSMAN OF SPAIN
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