- 27 The detention area on the first floor of Demokratias Police Station in Thessaloniki consisted of four cells, each equipped with a concrete plinth, and was holding five persons at the time of the visit. Access to natural light was minimal and artificial lighting poor. One cell, unoccupied at the time of the visit, was in total darkness as the artificial lighting did not function and it had no access to natural light. It had been occupied a few days prior to the delegation’s visit. The cells were in a state of dilapidation, hygiene was poor and there was no hot water with which to wash. The registers showed that persons could be detained for up to two months in this station. The Metagogon (Transfer) Centre in Thessaloniki, located on the outskirts of the city in a warehouse-type structure, consisted of six large cells on the ground floor, each of which had an official capacity of 10 persons. There were also two cells that were used for accommodating women. At the outset of the delegation’s visit, the Centre was holding 83 men and three women, and a further 26 persons arrived later the same day. It was in principle intended to hold people for up to 24 hours but was now accommodating persons on remand or sentenced prisoners for several months, in addition to persons in transit. The material and hygienic conditions were poor, and there was no access to outdoor exercise. 42. Igoumenitsa Police Station had two cells (each measuring approximately 12 m²), which were respectively holding two and four persons, but which apparently often accommodated six persons each. Hygiene was better than in the other police stations visited and lengths of stay appeared to be weeks rather than months. However, there was no access to outdoor exercise. The detention area at Ioannina Police Station consisted of three cells, all of which were dirty, cold and damp. The largest cell (21 m²) had no access to natural light or any artificial lighting (apart from a glimmer coming through the cell door from the corridor) and the ventilation was poor. Further, the cell was not equipped with a toilet and the three detainees held there at the time of the visit stated that they regularly had to urinate in a bottle. The mattresses and blankets were filthy. The other two cells, measuring some 11 m² and 19 m² were both severely overcrowded at the time of the visit, accommodating respectively seven and nine persons. Further, the floor of the 11 m² cell was regularly flooded due to the defective plumbing in the adjacent sanitary facility. In addition, although the station possessed an outdoor exercise yard, detainees were not offered access to it. 43. Larissa Police Station had a detention area with four cells19 containing 36 concrete plinths and, at the time of the visit was accommodating 52 irregular migrants. In one cell, measuring some 12 m², three of the seven occupants were sleeping on blankets on the floor and in another cell (measuring some 40 m²) seven of the 15 detainees were sleeping on blankets on the floor. Access to natural light was poor and the artificial lighting in the corridors insufficient to illuminate the cells. Blankets were apparently never washed; it was only after an outbreak of scabies at the end of 2012 that all bedding was changed. However, at the time of the visit, many detainees suffered from various skin diseases. The only positive aspect was that detainees had access to an outdoor exercise yard every day in the morning and afternoon for up to four hours. 19 A fifth cell, separated from the others and primarily intended for female detainees, was accommodating a male criminal suspect at the time of the visit. The conditions in this cell were satisfactory.