Publication highlights of persons complained of unduly tight handcuffing. All of these allegations concerned the National Police. In its report, the CPT recommends that a message of “zero tolerance” of ill-treatment be delivered regularly to officers of the National Police. In their response, the French authorities provide information on the actions taken (instructions, reminders, training) to ensure that law enforcement officials comply with the law and professional ethics in the course of their duties. In reaction to recommendations by the CPT, they also inform the Committee of steps taken or envisaged to improve conditions of detention in police and gendarmerie cells and in administrative holding centres for foreign nationals. 66. The report notes that the Police Custody Act of 14 April 2011 has introduced significant improvements as regards access to a lawyer during police custody. Nevertheless, the CPT expresses concern about the possibilities offered to postpone for a given period a lawyer’s presence during questioning and even, in relation to persons suspected of certain offences, any contact whatsoever between the detained person and a lawyer. The Committee has emphasised that any postponement should only concern a lawyer chosen by the detained person; in such cases, the detained person must be granted access to another lawyer, who could, for example, be appointed by the chair of the Bar Association. 67. The delegation received no allegations of deliberate ill-treatment of inmates by prison staff in Le Havre and Poissy Prisons; nevertheless, at Le Havre, some cases of excessive use of force by staff when dealing with incidents were drawn to its attention. The delegation also noted that there was an appreciable risk of inter-prisoner violence in that establishment. Further, the conditions under which prisoners are transferred to local health-care establishments and receive medical treatment continue to be of concern to the Committee. In response, the French authorities refer to training for junior prison staff at Le Havre Prison on the appropriate use of force. They also inform the Committee of the work of Health-Justice coordination bodies in relation to transfers of prisoners to local health-care facilities. As regards prison overcrowding, another issue raised by the CPT in the report, the French authorities provide details on action taken to develop non-custodial measures and plans to increase the overall capacity of the prison estate. 68. In the field of psychiatry, the CPT has recommended that urgent action be taken in respect of persons awaiting placement in units for difficult patients and prisoners suffering from psychiatric disorders. It emerged during the visit that these categories of patients were generally kept for prolonged periods, often under restraint, in seclusion rooms in general psychiatry departments. In ­response, the French authorities inform the Committee of the envisaged settingup of psychiatric intensive care units at the Paul Guiraud hospital complex and of the planned increase of the number of places available in units for difficult patients in order to better meet the needs of the patients concerned. They also indicate that, pending the construction of further psychiatric hospital units 27