- 24 The CPT recommends once again that the Greek authorities introduce an
individualised custody record, in line with the criteria referred to above.
vi.
inspection of police and border guard detention facilities
41.
The CPT has repeatedly recommended that the Greek authorities establish an independent
police inspectorate35; in their response to the report on the 2008 visit the Greek authorities implied
that such a task is currently performed by the Greek Ombudsman.36 However, the Greek
Ombudsman does not consider his Office to be the appropriate body for such a task given its
overarching mandate of complaints-based public administration oversight. The CPT remains
convinced that a dedicated structure should be established to carry out inspections of police stations.
The CPT reiterates its recommendation that the Greek authorities establish an
independent police inspectorate.
c.
safeguards against ill-treatment for administratively detained irregular
migrants
42.
The Circular of 4 July 2003 on “Treatment and rights of persons detained by police
authorities”, referred to above, applies equally to administratively detained irregular migrants,
whether held in police or border guard stations or in dedicated detention facilities for aliens. In
other words, irregular migrants are entitled to access to a lawyer and to a doctor, as well as to have
the fact of their detention notified to a close relative or third party of their choice.
43.
Similar to criminal suspects, administratively detained irregular migrants should receive an
information sheet detailing their rights, which makes reference inter alia to the right of access to a
lawyer and a doctor. The information sheet is produced in a number of languages (including Arabic,
Farsi, English, Georgian and Russian), and in certain police stations, such as Piraeus Moschatou
and Serres, irregular migrants said that they had been informed of their rights in a language they
could understand. However, in most police stations visited by the delegation, irregular migrants
claimed that this had not been the case.
The CPT recommends that the Greek authorities remind police officers that
information on rights should be provided in a language that the detained person understands.
35
36
See for instance CPT/Inf (2002) 31, paragraph 22; CPT/Inf (2006) 41, paragraph 21; CPT/ Inf (2008) 3,
paragraph 44.
See for instance CPT/Inf (2002) 32, page 16; CPT/Inf (2008) 3, paragraph 44.
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