they had allegedly been subjected. The delegation also received a number of complaints about verbal abuse (including of a racist nature). The CPT also describes certain individual cases of alleged police ill-treatment and makes several recommendations concerning requirements for an efective investigation into such allegations. In their response, the Slovak authorities provide an update on the investigations carried out into such cases. Material conditions in custody cells in the police establishments visited were, on the whole, satisfactory. However, several of the police stations visited had small holding facilities destined for temporary placement of persons deprived of their liberty (so-called “designated areas”) which were occasionally used for overnight placement of apprehended persons. Some of them were cage-like cubicles, others were small rooms, equipped only with one or two fxed stools or a small bench. The Committee recommends that, due to their small size (sometimes a mere 2m²) and inadequate equipment, these facilities should not be used for holding persons for more than a few hours and never overnight. In their response, the authorities indicate that a new order will be issued to this efect by the Police President. 90. As regards prisons, the vast majority of prisoners interviewed by the CPT’s delegation made no allegations of physical ill-treatment by prison staf. That said, the delegation did receive a few allegations of physical ill-treatment and verbal abuse of inmates by members of staf in some of the establishments visited. The Committee notes with concern that no systematic modifcation of the approach towards life-sentenced prisoners has been made since the 2009 General Report of the CPT, 2013-2014 ► Page 44 visit. The CPT thus reiterates its recommendation that the Slovak authorities move away from the current policy of having life-sentenced prisoners locked up for most of the time in their cells. Instead, they should integrate them into the mainstream prison population and develop purposeful out-of-cell activities of a long-term nature. In their response, the Slovak authorities provide information on new rules (in force as from 1 January 2014) which allow lifesentenced prisoners to progress through the prisoner classifcation system with the ultimate aim of being placed in the general prison population. Positive comments are made by the Committee about the regime ofered to sentenced juveniles at Sučany Prison and sentenced women at Nitra-Chrenová. However, the regime for remand prisoners (including juveniles) and sentenced prisoners held at Prešov Prison was found to be unacceptable. Most of the prisoners concerned were usually locked up in their cells for up to 23 hours per day, without being ofered any purposeful out-of-cell activities. A total absence of organised activities was also observed by the CPT in the highsecurity department of Leopoldov Prison. The government response lists a number of measures which are expected to be implemented in the near future with the aim of remedying the situation. Further, the CPT was concerned to fnd once again that several prisoners accommodated in this department sufered from learning disabilities and/or showed clear signs of serious mental disorders. In the CPT’s view, a high-security department is not an appropriate place for managing such prisoners who should be cared for and treated in an environment which is suitably equipped and has sufcient