- 15 iii. as regards Monasteriou Police Headquarters in Thessaloniki, a great number of persons5 claimed that they had been ill-treated by officers of the Security Police Department. More specifically, they stated that they had been taken to a small interview room on the 3rd floor of the station, where they had been slapped, punched or kicked, had had their heads banged against the walls, hair pulled and been subjected to blows with a baton or a telephone directory. A few stated that they had had a motorcycle helmet placed over their head and subsequently subjected to blows with a baton to the helmet. Several also claimed that prior to being ill-treated they had been ordered to undress and been left naked in the interview room handcuffed to a bench or chair. The alleged illtreatment was purportedly carried out in order to get the suspects to provide certain information or to confess to the charges against them. 16. As noted above, the CPT’s delegation made an immediate observation at the end of the visit and requested the Greek authorities to carry out a comprehensive inquiry into the methods used by officers at the Security Departments of Omonia and Kypseli Police Stations in Athens and at the Monasteriou Police Headquarters in Thessaloniki, when detaining and interviewing criminal suspects. By communication of 17 June 2013, the Greek authorities informed the Committee that the Attiki and Thessaloniki Directorates of Police had been ordered to investigate the matter in depth by means of a Sworn Administrative Inquiry (EDE). The CPT looks forward to being informed about the outcome of these inquiries. 17. The delegation also received allegations of physical ill-treatment by police officers at other police stations; for example, a detained person alleged that, on 12 April 2013, three officers from the Security Police Department at Aghios Panteleimonas had, after stripping him naked, subjected him to slaps, punches and kicks, and delivered several blows with a belt and an iron bar to his chest and head. When met by the delegation, he displayed a swelling on his head and complained about pain in his ribs, where he had apparently been hit with the iron bar. He also had visible bruising on his arms and legs, and a lesion on the inside of his lower lip. Further, both wrists displayed reddish marks from where he had been handcuffed. This case was reported to the Director of the SubDirectorate of the Security Police of Athens; the CPT would like to be updated on the investigation into this case. 18. Many foreign detained persons met by the delegation complained that they had been subjected to racist insults by police officers either upon apprehension or at the police station. In many instances, the verbal abuse was apparently linked to the colour of their skin and was a strong message that they were not welcome in Greece. Allegations of racist behaviour by police officers were particularly prevalent at Drapetsona, Korydallos and Omonia Police Stations. Not infrequently, the verbal abuse was apparently accompanied by physical ill-treatment. It is incumbent upon the Greek authorities to ensure that the Hellenic Police Force actively promotes a strong culture of tolerance and understanding within its ranks; such an outlook needs to be inculcated at all stages of police training. A clear message should also be sent that racist behaviour will be sanctioned accordingly. 5 Both persons interviewed separately in different cells in the police station and persons met in various prisons.