CAT/OP/CYP/1/Add.1 55. As regards ill-treatment, the Chief of Police has issued circular letters informing Police members that the Attorney General, after having examined various criminal interrogations and administrative investigations concerning citizens’ allegations of abuse and/or exercise of violence by Police members, gave instructions that when such allegations are reported, he must be informed promptly (within a maximum of 24 hours), so as to enable him to exercise his powers, which include the power to assign independent criminal investigators to examine the allegations. Furthermore, the Independent Authority for the Investigation of Allegations and Complaints against the Police which has competence to act ex-proprio motu, must also be informed within 24 hours. 56. Moreover, the Attorney General gave the following instructions as far as the procedures to be followed by the Police: • The previous practice of the Police to perform administrative or criminal investigation of such cases is terminated; • Whenever a person files a complaint of having been abused or subjected to violence by Police members, he/she must be examined by a forensic pathologist, who in turn must submit a relevant report on his/her findings. The report is then forwarded to the Attorney General; • If such complaint is filed by a foreign national, the Head of the Aliens and Immigration Service is also informed, so that no deportation proceedings are executed. 57. As regards the use of handcuffs, according to the relevant Police Standing Order 5/39 “Handcuffs”, the purpose of using handcuffs is to prevent detainees from escaping or avoiding potential harm to themselves, to others or to property. Handcuffs are used for security reasons, after an evaluation on a case by case basis, and only when deemed strictly necessary. (1) Therefore, handcuffs are used on: • Convicts or persons under trial; • Persons who are in police custody as suspects of committing serious offenses; • Persons who are in police custody as suspects of committing any other offenses and are dangerous. (2) Members may not use handcuffs: • On juveniles, elderly, injured or disabled persons. The use of handcuffs in such cases shall be made if absolutely necessary, taking into account the following: - Aggressive behaviour of the arrested person, - The seriousness of the offense committed, and - Body type of the person arrested. • Persons who are unable to escape or are unlikely to escape; • On detainees or convicts transported on ships or airplanes, unless they are dangerously violent or their guard is not sufficient; • On mentally disturbed persons, depending on the instructions of the police officer in charge for guarding this person, who takes into consideration the opinion of the attending physician/doctor, the chances of escape and when sure these will cause undue discomfort; • On detainees/convicts/prisoners, who are in Court, unless the Court orders otherwise. 58. Relevant training is also conducted by the Emergency Response Unit of the Cyprus Police. 10