- 41 91. At Kolonos Police Station, which consisted of five cells between 8 and 22 m² – each equipped with several plinth beds – for a capacity of 25 places, conditions of detention were acceptable for short periods. However, at the time of the visit, three of the seven foreign nationals60 had been held there for more than a month. While the detention area had been partially cleaned and drinking water from a water fountain, as well as hot water to shower, were available for detained persons who could walk freely within the detention area, the delegation observed a number of shortcomings that were acknowledged by the duty officer. In particular, access to natural light was insufficient in the two cells, which had not been cleaned, and artificial light was insufficient in the whole area. Not all detained persons had a mattress to sleep on and there were insufficient blankets. The sanitary facilities had no lights and only two out of the four toilets were functioning. Further, detained persons were neither provided with sufficient hygiene products nor with access to outdoor exercise. The CPT recommends that these shortcomings at Kolonos Police Station be addressed. 92. At Omonia Police Station, the holding cells on the first floor were closed for refurbishment works at the time of the visit, in order to provide for hot water, lighting and improved security. That said, the delegation met six persons, including an irregular migrant, in the detention cell of the Security Police Department on the third floor; the latter was being held there for ten days without access to outdoor exercise. The cell was in a poor state of cleanliness with dirty blankets and infested by cockroaches. Further, the sanitary annexe, which could only be accessed when the police officers unlocked the cell door, was absolutely filthy and dilapidated, with water all over the floor: the toilets were dirty and unhygienic, the stand-pipe from which detained persons were required to drink was hardly functioning and the sink was broken. The CPT recommends that the Greek authorities take the necessary steps to ensure that the detention cell of the Security Police Department on the third floor of Omonia Police Station is disinfected and maintained in a decent state of cleanliness and repair. 93. Further, all persons interviewed by the delegation in this cell stated that, while they were able to buy food; they had not been provided with food free-of-charge by the police since their arrival. This is very much at variance with the duty officer’s assurance to the delegation that each detained person was provided with two meals per day. In particular, the foreign national who had been held there for ten days had no money to buy food. This state of affairs is unacceptable. Every person detained by the Hellenic Police must be provided with adequate and appropriate food free of charge, which includes at least one hot meal a day. At the end of the visit, the CPT’s delegation invoked Article 8, paragraph 5, of the Convention and made an immediate observation requesting to provide all foreign nationals detained by the police with food, at regular intervals. On 3 July 2018, the Greek authorities informed the CPT that all persons held in custody at Omonia Police Station are provided with food, twice a day and that nobody remained without food during his/her custody. 60 Further, two criminal suspects were being held there.