-4- Ministry of Interior 1. DETENTION CONDITIONS The issue of detainees’ residence at Police Services, as well as of the observance of hygienic rules in all areas, in particular detention areas, which are surely issues that are connected to detainees’ rights, are generally subjects of special importance-gravity for the Hellenic Police. In this framework, there is sensitivity and coordinated interest; for that reason, standard commands and instructions have been announced, so as all Hellenic Police Regional Services, on a diachronic basis, to abide by their duties in this sector, as arising from applicable provisions and international treaties. Specifically, these commands aim at making detention areas at Police Services suitable, ensuring respect of human dignity and detainees’ personality, while at the same time, their health and integrity are protected. Concrete commands for every current case are also announced, particularly after information, complaints, press releases, C.P.T. visits, findings-comments of the Greek Ombudsman, Parliamentary control etc,. As far the visit of C.P.T. in our Country (2005) is concerned, commands have been announced, including orders and instructions, so as the necessary actions to be set forward, in order for the detention conditions and terms meet the requirements, set by the existing legal framework, at national and European level. The observations, made during the visit of the Committee, were the occasion, for new directions to our Regional Services to be given over again for the onset of every enforced action for their implementation, and at the same time the Headquarters’ intentions and efforts not to be doubted in this matter. As emerged from reports of the Police Directorate of Attica, Thessalonica and Regions of the Country, conditions and terms of hygienic and security at the detention facilities of the Police Services are at a satisfactory level and measures for their further improvement are constantly taken. Of course, in some Regional Services several problems exist, the resolution for which has been routed, while in some cases existing problems do not even accept improving interventions, as new areas are required. Their hiring procedures have already been undertaken or are under process by competent Services. Specifically, problems are mainly due to: • • • the inappropriateness of buildings (old, leased), with lack of toilets, drainage problems etc. the lack of natural lighting, ventilation and heating. inadequacy of existing areas. By virtue of a new order, instructions and commands were given to all Regional Services, not only for the safe guarding of immigrants, for the avoidance of illegal actions, but also for the onset of the enforced actions falling under their competence, towards the direction of improvement of their residence conditions to Special Reception Centers, where they are kept, in collaboration with other co-competent Services for this cause.