- 36 g. staff 71. The staff of centres for immigration detainees have a particularly onerous task. Firstly, there will inevitably be communication difficulties caused by language barriers. Secondly, many detained persons will find the fact that they have been deprived of their liberty difficult to accept. Thirdly, there is a risk of tension between detainees of different nationalities or ethnic groups. Consequently, the CPT attaches particular importance to the careful selection and appropriate training of supervisory staff in centres for immigration detainees. As well as possessing well-developed techniques of interpersonal communication, the staff concerned should be familiarised with the different cultures of the detainees and at least some of them should have relevant language skills. Further, the staff should be taught to recognise possible symptoms of stress displayed by detained persons (whether posttraumatic or induced by socio-cultural changes) and to take appropriate action. 72. The above-mentioned criteria were far from being satisfied in the centres visited. Besides the irregular presence of medical staff (Venna excepted), the only staff present at the Special Holding Facilities were border/police guards and representatives of the Prefecture, who were in charge of the provision of bedding, clothing and hygienic products. None of the staff were provided with any special training in working with foreigners from different cultures and backgrounds. Further, the border guards did not even possess the minimal training required for custodial duties. In addition, the staff arrangements were totally inadequate; for example, at the Mytilini and Chios centres there were two police officers per shift, while in Peplos there were five; further, the women’s sections in the centres of Mytilini, Peplos and Venna should be staffed by female custodial staff. A representative from the Prefecture was present for only a few hours a day, if that, in all the centres visited. Moreover, in two of the facilities visited the language barrier was such that the CPT’s delegation was addressed directly by detainees expressing their wish to return voluntarily to their country of origin, and was asked to assist with medical examinations. Having access to persons with the relevant language capabilities is an essential requisite for all foreigner detention centres. The CPT recommends that the Greek authorities take resolute action to ensure the foreigner detention facilities are adequately staffed by properly qualified and trained persons, taking into consideration the above remarks.