-6The CPT’s delegation consulted a number of investigative files, from which it emerged that the action taken by the prosecutorial authorities to investigate the very serious allegations of police illtreatment set out in the CPT’s 2013 report and in other specific cases is manifestly insufficient. This raises serious concerns about the commitment of the Greek authorities to combat impunity within the Hellenic Police. The delegation again received frequent claims from detained persons about the passive role of prosecutors and judges when ill-treatment allegations were brought to their attention. The Committee recommends ensuring the accurate and timely documenting and reporting of forensic medical evidence and aligning the definition of torture provided in Article 137 A of the Criminal Code with international standards. It also reiterates its recommendation for the creation of a fully independent and adequately resourced police complaints body. The CPT reiterates that formal safeguards against ill-treatment (including the rights of notification of custody, access to a lawyer and access to a doctor) do not for the most part apply in practice from the outset of a person’s deprivation of liberty and more generally remain ineffective, despite the existence of clear rules. It is also concerned as regards the respect of confidentiality in the lawyerclient relationship and recommends that custody registers are properly maintained and that they accurately record the presence of suspects in a police establishment and/or their placement in a cell. With respect to material conditions, the recent policy change aimed at preventing overcrowding and, as far as possible, no longer holding irregular migrants in police stations has significantly alleviated the situation. Nevertheless, the detention conditions were generally poor due to a manifest lack of hygiene and maintenance. The Greek authorities should take steps to remedy the shortcomings identified. Prison establishments The findings of the 2015 visit highlight that the main problems of overcrowding and chronic shortage of staff persist and that the Greek prison system is reaching breaking point. These two overarching problems compound the many additional serious shortcomings in the prisons visited, and particularly the insufficient and inadequate provision of health-care services. The situation has now deteriorated to the point where over and above the serious ill-treatment concerns under Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), there are very real right to life issues under Article 2 ECHR, in as much as vulnerable prisoners are not being cared for and, in some cases, are being allowed to die. The CPT acknowledges the recent steps taken by the Greek authorities which have resulted in a noticeable reduction in the prison population. Nevertheless, further efforts need to be made to promote alternatives to imprisonment and to move away from the current situation whereby prisons in Greece are merely acting as warehouses. To this end, the CPT welcomes the Ministry of Justice’s commitment to devise a strategic plan for the prison system and recommends that such a plan be drawn up within six months, following a needs assessment and consultation with all relevant parties. While almost no allegations of physical ill-treatment of inmates by staff were received, interprisoner violence and intimidation remains a serious problem; cases of hospitalisation of inmates due to severe injuries inflicted by other inmates were a feature in all the prisons visited. This was particularly the case at Korydallos Men’s Prison, where wings of some 350 to 400 prisoners were staffed by only one or two custodial officers – a situation that could be likened to a boiling cauldron left to simmer away with violent eruptions every few months. The time has come for the Greek authorities to recognise the extent of the problem and to tackle it forcefully, by devising an effective national strategy to prevent inter-prisoner violence and intimidation. This will require radically increasing staffing levels, introducing a dynamic security approach and rigorously investigating and prosecuting the perpetrators.