ΙΙΙ. Conditions in Detention Facilities for Aliens Α) European Committee for the Prevention of Torture The CPT visited in 2007 many detention facilities for aliens. In regard to Border Guard Stations, it considered the conditions generally unacceptable even for short-term detention and it emphasised the problems of inadequate natural light, ventilation and cleanness, overpopulation and lack of foreyards. The CPT expressed its satisfaction for the closing down of the “Special Detention Facility for Aliens” (hereafter SDFA) located in Peplo. However, it affirmed that the new installation does not meet the requirements that it had recommended (par. 27). The observations of the CPT for the other facilities that it visited may be summarized as follows: lack of foreyard, beds, cleanness, activity spaces, access to hygiene spaces, inadequate space per detainee, inadequate personnel, briefing of the detainees for their rights. The CPT visited again in 2008 many detention facilities for aliens. We are briefly noting again the problems that were spotted by the CPT apart from overpopulation: problematic access to the toilets, lack of foreyard space or/and limited use of it, lack of beds, lack of sanitary ware, lack of activities, lack of adequate personnel, inadequate food, detention of women and men in the same facilities. The CPT also visited the Mitilini SDFA in Pagani and described the conditions there as “repulsive”. We need to note that this facility closed down in the autumn of 2009 by a decision of the Ministry of the Citizen Protection. The conditions in SDFA in Filakio that started functioning in spring 2007 were certified by the CPT as satisfactory and it emphasized that this is the result of the good cooperation between the Police and the Prefecture (par. 41). The responses of the Greek Government to the CPT’s Reports of 2007 and 2008 do acknowledge some of the problems –although they tend to minimize themand they mention the measures (e.g. reconstructions, repairs) that the competent Ministry has already taken or intends to take, such as the closing down of the SDFA of Peplos and Vrysikas. However, certain responses were not persuasive, 6