-6CPT highlights its deep concern about the treatment of two patients at the Centre which, in addition to being grossly neglectful, could be considered as inhuman and degrading, as they were being denied the nursing or medical care they required. Urgent action is required to improve the quality of care and to transform the Centre into a professional care-oriented medical facility. The dire staffing situation in all the prisons visited must be addressed without delay in order to guarantee an effective control and a safe environment for prisoners and staff alike. The announced recruitment and increase of custodial officers represents a start but it remains wholly insufficient. The staffing levels in all Greek prisons must be reviewed and the working conditions of prison staff improved. Further, a comprehensive plan for staff training should be developed. The CPT also makes a number of recommendations to ensure that prisoners are informed about their rights and of the disciplinary procedures. In addition, it recommends the introduction of a proper reception and induction process, improvements in prisoners’ contact with the outside world and the development of a formal system of complaints. Police establishments The CPT has been highly critical about the treatment of criminal suspects by elements of the Hellenic Police and remains concerned that, despite overwhelming indications to the contrary, the Greek authorities have to date consistently refused to accept that police ill-treatment is a serious problem in Greece. The findings of the 2019 visit indicate once again that the infliction of ill-treatment by the police, especially against foreign nationals and persons from the Roma community, remains a frequent practice throughout Greece. The CPT’s delegation received a high number of credible allegations of excessive use of force and unduly tight handcuffing upon apprehension and of physical and psychological ill-treatment of criminal suspects during or in the context of police interviews. Alleged ill-treatment mainly consisted of slaps, punches and kicks as well as blows with truncheons and metal objects to the body and head. It also received some allegations involving blows with a stick to the soles of the feet (falaka) and the application of a plastic bag over the head during police interviews, reportedly with the aim of obtaining a confession and a signed statement. None of the persons who alleged ill-treatment had been allowed to make a phone call or to contact a lawyer during their initial questioning by the police. Further, a great number of allegations of verbal abuse of detained persons was received, including of racist/xenophobic remarks by police officers. The Greek authorities must ensure that all police officers understand clearly that any form of illtreatment of detained persons constitutes a criminal offence and will be prosecuted accordingly. The authorities should also actively promote a culture change within the ranks of the Hellenic Police and provide regular professional training for police operational officers and investigators, including on appropriate interview and investigation techniques. In the CPT’s view, the current system of investigations into allegations of ill-treatment cannot be considered effective. The establishment of a “National Mechanism for the Investigation of Arbitrary Incidents” within the Ombudsman’s Office, operational since June 2017, represents a step in the direction of creating a fully independent police complaints body. However, the CPT has a number of concerns as to whether it is able to be fully effective, particularly as it provides no oversight of the criminal investigation into alleged ill-treatment cases. The CPT recommends that the Mechanism be provided with significantly more resources and be granted supplementary powers.