- 19 iii. holding facilities for aliens 28. The delegation visited Hellenikon holding centre for irregular immigrants, which now consists of two separately managed centres; the old structure with a capacity for 75 detainees and a new structure with a capacity for 123 detainees. At the time of the visit the centres held 60 and 117 persons respectively. The material conditions in the old structure were comparable to those observed in previous CPT visits, except for the welcome installation of plinths for placing mattresses. 29. Hellenikon holding centre (new structure) had seven cells; six of them each measuring 32m² and containing 18 beds, and the seventh measuring some 21m² and containing 12 beds. Such occupancy rates are too high (cf. paragraph 32). In general, the cells had adequate lighting and sufficient ventilation; however, many mattresses needed replacing and clean bedding was not provided. Further, the sanitary facilities were outside the cells, requiring a police escort for every visit and many detainees complained about problems of access. That said, the major defects, given that most persons spent up to three months or more in the centre, were a total lack of purposeful activities and no health care service. The delegation also came across a cage-like cell of some 3.5m² whose purpose was not clear. A cell of such a size should not be used to accommodate detainees for more than a short period. The CPT would like to receive clarification as to the purpose of this cell as well as information on the frequency of its occupancy. iv. holding areas at Athens International airport 30. The facilities at the new Athens International airport consisted of a short-term holding room (5m²) in the departure lounge, a holding area comprising a three-roomed apartment and three dormitories, and a nine-cell block. The latter two facilities were in the new police headquarters one and a half kilometres from the airport terminals. Conditions inside the holding area were adequate with the rooms and dormitories having access to sufficient natural light and ventilation, clean bedding, satisfactory sanitary facilities (separate for men and women). However, there was no exercise yard, a significant failing given the length of time persons could spend in the holding area. The conditions in the separate cell-block are of concern to the CPT’s delegation. Each cell (measuring 9.5m²) had an official capacity of five persons, already too high. In fact, the registers showed that on many occasions, for example in May and June 2005 the occupancy rate reached six and even as high as nine persons per cell. An examination of the cells seemed to indicate that originally they had been designed for one person as there was only a single plinth in the cells – certainly no more than three persons, preferably no more than two, should be held overnight in such cells. The sanitary facilities were outside the cells and the delegation heard many complaints that the police guards did not respond rapidly to requests to go to the toilet; further, access to the shower appeared extremely limited, and five persons, in the same cell, claimed they had not had a shower in seven days – the overbearing hot, sweaty stench lent much credence to their allegation. The delegation also met a man who had spent one and a half months in one of the cells with no change of clothes, no access to fresh air nor any exercise nor any purposeful activity. Such treatment is unacceptable.