- 13 15. At Hellinikon holding centre (new structure) for irregular immigrants the delegation met a man who appeared to be of Chinese origin and who had been detained for almost one and a half years without being able to communicate with anyone and, who appeared to have developed symptoms of serious mental disorder. The delegation was told by a number of detainees that this man was neglected by the staff and that it was the detainees themselves who cared for him. For example, he would only wash when they guided him to the shower facilities and he would only eat when encouraged to do so by them. Further, the delegation learned that this man had been placed in a cage-like cell (3.5m²) for several months. When asked about this person, the director of the establishment initially informed the delegation that he was unaware of the man’s presence; subsequently, he said that the man did not fall under his authority. The CPT is very concerned about the conditions under which this person was kept. It considers that this case of serious neglect, caused by the attitude of the custodial staff and the lack of health care facilities in the centre, could amount to inhuman treatment. By letter of 12 January 2006 the Greek authorities indicated that the man in question had been transferred to Korydallos Psychiatric Hospital on 14 October 2005, but that attempts to diagnose the man had failed as the psychiatrist found it impossible to communicate with him. Such a response is not satisfactory. The CPT would like to be informed about the current treatment of this person. Further, the CPT recommends that appropriate action be taken to avoid a repetition in the future of such a situation. *** 16. The information gathered in the course of the 2005 visit concerning ill-treatment highlights the necessity for determined action by the Greek authorities to address the situation. All means should be explored to ensure that the message of zero tolerance of ill-treatment of detained persons reaches all law enforcement officials at all levels; they should be made aware, through concrete action, that the Greek government is resolved to stamp out ill-treatment of persons deprived of their liberty. The rule of law entails not only the adoption of the appropriate legal norms but also taking the necessary steps to ensure their application. The circular by the Chief of Police in July 2003, referred to above, unequivocally states the duties of the police and explicitly reminds police officers that infringements of the law will result in criminal and disciplinary sanctions. Nevertheless, the practice of the use of violence by the police on detainees continues. The CPT recommends that the Greek authorities strenuously reiterate the above message of zero tolerance of illtreatment of detained persons and reinforce it with a statement at the appropriate political level. 17. As indicated in previous reports, it is essential to ensure that police officers themselves view ill-treatment as an unprofessional means of carrying out their duties, as well as being a criminal act. This implies strict selection criteria at the time of recruitment and the provision of adequate professional training, both initial and in-service.