Special Interest Sites in Deprivation of Liberty 228. There are no individual custody forms to be used for deportees from the time they leave their place of origin (Immigrant Detention Center, prison, police stations, Central Registry of Detainees...), which means that the chain of custody cannot be properly controlled from that moment until they are handed over in the country of destination. This must be corrected. Individual custody forms 229. After the documentation had been checked, the escorts of the repatriation operation carried out a very thorough body search on the men, one at a time, examining their clothes, their mouth and their feet, which obliged detainees to take off their socks and shoes. They carefully removed all objects that could entail a threat for the security of persons, and objects that could be used by detainees to cause self-inflicted injuries and thus try to make their expulsion very difficult or to impede it. The woman was also searched like the men, except that women agents of the Central Unit for Deportation and Repatriation performed it in the women’s lavatory. A female expert of the inspection team observed this search. According to the information provided, strip searches are only performed when a detainee looks suspicious. In respect to money and valuables carried by detain­ ees, they are deposited in transparent plastic bags labeled with the owner’s name and sealed in his/her presence, which are in the custody of the head of the opera­ tion or whoever the latter appoints. After the documentation 230. It was noted that the police agents were not wearing, at any time, their regulation weapon, defenses or shields. The police commanders stated that in cases of resistance or violent behavior during an operation, restraint and restraining measures would be used proportional to the situation. For this pur­ pose the Central Unit for Deportation and Repatriation has cords, immobiliza­ tion belts and shackles, although it was pointed out that the latter are hardly ever used. The police escorts also have utensils to cut cords, anti-cut gloves and over­ alls for deportees who need them. Likewise, they have two mats in which they can immobilize deportees in cases of great resistance. The police agents are not are not available had been checked, a thorough search was carried out armed, and have means of restraint to use in situations of risk To avoid incidents, aggressions and self-inflicted injuries, after the searches five deportees had their wrists tied with immobilization belts, as shown in the follow­ ing pictures, which they wore during the time they waited, when they were trans­ ferred by bus on the runway and during boarding. These belts allow eating and drinking, since they are equipped with a device on the right hand strap consist­ ing of an extendable cord. THE OMBUDSMAN OF SPAIN 157

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