- 30 76. Conditions of detention at the Piraeus Transfer Centre could fairly be described as inhuman. At the time of the delegation's visit, the Centre was holding 46 detainees (staff told the delegation that the official capacity was 40), approximately half of whom were located in a detention area on the ground floor. This consisted of a central section best described as a cross between a room and a yard (approximately one-third of it was open to the sky), alongside which were several smaller rooms. The rooms were used as sleeping accommodation and, apparently, were locked at night; during the day, detainees were able to circulate throughout the detention area. The rooms contained mattresses, some mounted on platforms or plinths, others placed on the floor; they were old and dirty, as were some 20 further mattresses stored in a nearby room. Further, many of the detainees were without blankets. Three sinks, providing cold water only, situated at the openair end of the central section served as the washing facilities; they were in a very unhygienic state, as were the two asian lavatories immediately adjacent (the only toilet facility in the ground floor detention area). The entire area was badly lit, dirty and in a poor general state of repair. The first floor of the Centre's premises contained two further detention rooms measuring respectively 9 and 12 m², into which had been packed twenty-one persons detained under the Aliens legislation (most Albanians) - 9 in the first room and 12 in the second. Certain of the detainees had been held in the rooms for more than two days. Inevitably, rest/sleeping arrangements (in the larger room, the 12 detainees were sharing four mattresses) and ventilation (staff stated that the room doors were opened from time to time in order to change the air) were inadequate. It should be added that the detainees remained in the rooms for the whole of their stay at the Centre; there were no facilities for outdoor exercise. The only positive feature was the existence of a sanitary annex for each room, though regrettably no toilet paper, soap or towels had been provided. 77. The CPT recommends that the detention facilities of the Piraeus Transfer Centre be extensively renovated without delay and, more specifically, brought into conformity with the criteria set out in paragraph 52. If such a renovation were not to prove feasible, the existing premises should be taken out of service and the Transfer Centre relocated elsewhere, in a place capable of offering better detention facilities. 78. Detained persons in both the transfer centres complained that they were not provided with sufficient food and drink. Police officers informed the delegation that each detainee received a daily allowance of 500 drachmas for this purpose, but it was not clear how this money was distributed, how it was converted into food and drink, and, in any event, whether it would be sufficient. The CPT would like to receive the comments of the Greek authorities on this subject. 79. Finally, the delegation observed that whereas both the transfer centres were required from time to time to accommodate female detainees, neither of them had specific facilities for this purpose. The CPT recommends that proper provision be made in all transfer centres (and in police detention facilities in general) for female detainees. The accommodation in question should ensure both their security and their dignity. Further, the presence of female staff is highly desirable.