- 16 3. Conditions of detention a. introduction 22. The CPT has, in the course of previous visits to Greece, found the conditions of detention in police establishments to be, in general, less than satisfactory, and in certain cases has described the situation observed as amounting to inhuman and/or degrading treatment. Many recommendations by the CPT have been aimed at improving the conditions of detention, notably in relation to occupancy rates, material conditions and levels of hygiene and outdoor exercise4. The findings of the 2005 visit highlight that there still remains a long way to go before the conditions of detention in police establishments can be considered as satisfactory. b. situation in establishments visited 23. It is worth recalling that the detention facilities in the establishments visited were designed for holding criminal suspects for short periods. However, in practice the delegation observed that such facilities were used for holding persons for prolonged periods (i.e. up to three months or on occasion even longer), in particular immigration detainees. i. police headquarters and stations 24. Conditions were, on the whole, acceptable for short periods of time at Athens Police Headquarters (3rd floor – Juvenile Department) and at Chios Town5, Corfu Town and Komotini Town police stations. Cells had artificial lighting and ventilation, and enjoyed some access to natural light; they were clean and in a reasonable state of repair. Further, appropriate sleeping arrangements (plinths, beds, and/or mattress, and clean blankets) were available for detainees held overnight in custody. That said, basic repair work to ensure showers and lighting functioned was sometimes needed. Further, the small holding cell (measuring less than 4m²) in Komotini police station should only be used for very short periods. The cells in the police station at Alexandroupolis had virtually no access to natural light and the toilet area was insalubrious. The conditions in Mytilini Police Headquarters would be acceptable if the detention area were properly cleaned, clean blankets provided, the lighting improved and the toilet area enlarged6. The delegation was informed that both these police establishment would be relocated to new buildings, Alexandroupolis within a short period and Mytilini within a year. 4 5 6 cf. inter alia CPT/Inf (94) 20, paragraph 88; CPT/Inf (2001) 18, Part I, paragraphs 44, 45 and 46, CPT/Inf (2001) 18, Part II, paragraph 40, and CPT/Inf (2002) 18, paragraphs 36 to 39. The delegation visited the new police headquarters which was due to open in 2006. These new facilities included a much larger detention unit and a small exercise yard, and some initial remarks on the layout and use of the cells were provided to the Chief of Chios Town Police. The delegation had some reservations over the intended use of the small windowless cell just outside the main cell area, noting it was totally inappropriate for holding juveniles. If properly equipped and closely supervised it could be used for short periods to allow violent/drunk persons to calm down. The delegation also noted that the conditions in which the custodial officers had to work were far from ideal, and not at all conducive to a professional working environment.