- 18 Addressing the phenomenon of inter-prisoner violence first and foremost requires that staffing levels be radically increased. Moreover, the existing skills and expertise of prison staff should be expanded by providing further specialised training. Prison staff must be alert to signs of trouble and both resolved and properly trained to intervene. The existence of positive relations between staff and prisoners, based on the notions of dynamic security and care, is a decisive factor in this context; this will depend to a large extent on staff possessing appropriate interpersonal communication skills. It is also obvious that an effective strategy to tackle inter-prisoner violence and intimidation should seek to ensure that prison staff are placed in a position to exercise their authority in an appropriate manner. The CPT reiterates its recommendation that the Greek authorities devise an effective national strategy concerning the prevention of inter-prisoner violence and intimidation, in the light of the above comments. Such a strategy must include a risk and needs assessment and an appropriate allocation based on this assessment of every prisoner entering the prison system, the proper control of the wings by prison staff, the separation of stronger groups of prisoners from other prisoners, a reduction in overcrowding and the provision of activities. There must also be an improvement in the proper recording and reporting and the thorough investigation of suspected cases of violence and intimidation and, where appropriate, the adoption of suitable sanctions or other measures, as well as the development of effective violence reduction interventions. Above all, as a prerequisite, any strategy will require a significant increase in the number of prison officers, over and above those currently being recruited (see also paragraph 52). 3. Conditions of detention a. material conditions 28. Once again, the CPT’s delegation found that the provisions of the 1999 Greek Penitentiary 18 Code are simply no longer adhered to with regard to standards of accommodation and norms for a safe environment, including health care and hygiene, to be provided to each prisoner. In far too many instances, persons in prison are left to fester in overcrowded and totally inappropriate conditions which may be considered as amounting to inhuman and degrading treatment. There has been little if any progress made in improving the living conditions for prisoners in Greece in the 11 years since the CPT issued a public statement on the poor state of Greek prisons. 29. At Corfu Prison, each of the nine accommodation wings consisted of six cells on the ground floor and nine cells on the first floor accessed via a narrow corridor (0.8m wide) which led from a small communal area, equipped with a table and chairs, a fridge and a hotplate. The cells (measuring less than 6m²) mostly accommodated two persons and were equipped with a bunk bed, a table and chair, a television, a fan and a radiator. The sanitary annexe, accessed via a curtained partition, ran alongside the cell (0,8m x 3,3m). Conditions were more cramped in cell no. 15 in each wing as the toilet and sink was located within the cell, separated only by a plastic sheet from the bed, and these cells also often accommodated two persons. Cells of 6m², excluding the sanitary annex, should only accommodate one person. 18 Law 2776/1999 (Government Gazette A 291).