-4patients in practice. The report points, inter alia, to the need for: placement procedures to be
supported by two separate and reasoned medical opinions; and patients to be fully informed of their
rights, heard in person and legally represented during placement or appeal procedures.
The CPT reiterates its very serious concerns regarding transfers of persons by the police to
psychiatric establishments. Pending the planned change in transfer arrangements, the necessary
instructions (e.g. that patients not be handcuffed) and training should be provided, so that transfers
are carried out in conditions which ensure the safety and dignity of patients. In light of the practice
of allowing armed penitentiary staff to supervise prisoners receiving treatment at civil psychiatric
hospitals, the CPT recommends that a proper individual risk assessment be made in such cases and
less intrusive measures considered.
The CPT’s delegation also visited Korydallos Prison Psychiatric Hospital, noting little significant
change since the CPT’s previous visit in 2005. The Committee trusts that the imminent transfer to
the Ministry of Health of responsibility for medical services will help to transform the establishment
into a proper health-care facility. The planned reinforcement of health-care staff should also address
a number of concerns expressed in the report as regards the quality and variety of care, treatment
and activities on offer at the establishment.
No allegations of ill-treatment were received, though a few complaints were made by patients of
verbal abuse and disrespectful behaviour by staff. The CPT’s most alarming finding at Korydallos
Prison Psychiatric Hospital concerned the unacceptable use of the basement protection cells for the
seclusion of patients at risk of harming themselves or others. In the Committee’s view, to place
patients in those cells, without supervision and for extended periods, could easily be considered
inhuman and degrading. The CPT welcomes the steps taken by the authorities following the visit to
take the cells out of service and instead to establish an appropriate “quiet room” on the ground floor
of the Hospital.
Foreign nationals deprived of their liberty under aliens’ legislation
At the outset, the CPT acknowledges the difficult context and the significant on-going challenges
faced by the Greek authorities in dealing with the high number of foreign nationals arriving in the
country. Nevertheless, in light of the increased use of immigration detention, the Committee recalls
that foreign nationals deprived of their liberty must always be treated humanely and with dignity.
The CPT’s delegation received a number of credible allegations of physical ill-treatment by the
police, mainly consisting of slaps, punches, and kicks as well as baton blows. The allegations
related primarily to detention places in the Evros region (i.e. Fylakio Pre-removal Centre, Fylakio
Reception and Identification Centre (RIC) and Tychero Police and Border Guard Station) and on
Lesvos (i.e. Moria Pre-removal Centre). Several allegations of verbal abuse, including racist
language, by police officers were also received. The CPT recommends that vigorous steps be taken
to stamp out ill-treatment of foreign nationals deprived of their liberty by the police.
The fundamental safeguards against ill-treatment (i.e. the rights of notification of custody, access to
a lawyer and access to a doctor) remain ineffective and, for the most part, do not apply in practice
from the very outset of deprivation of liberty. Interpretation services should also be strengthened,
and custody records and complaints procedures improved.
Conditions of detention in most police and border guard stations visited remain unsuitable for
holding persons for periods exceeding 24 hours, and yet they were still being used to detain
irregular migrants for prolonged periods. At Isaakio Police and Border Guard Station, 41 foreign
nationals were crammed together overnight in filthy and grossly sub-standard material conditions,