Excessive and Disproportionate Force - Physical Assault with Use of Fist, Kicking, Police Batons, ‘Crossing’ In general, the use of excessive and disproportionate force was employed as part of the practice of punitive violence in PRDCs. However, considering the arbitrary interpretations of behaviour deserving of punishment by authorities, and that disproportionate force was employed for other means of intimidation, further detail regarding the specific types of physical abuse will be evidenced through testimonies, which are used to indicate the gravity and consistency of practices of violence. Across all testimonies, physical assault, including the use of police batons, fists, slapping and kicking, were the most commonly reported applications of disproportionate force. 54% of respondents indicated that detainees were subjected to physical violence in PRDCs, with 75% of respondents detained in Paranesti PRDC reporting abusive practices. Importantly, respondents shared experiences not only referencing themselves, but of fellow detainees who they had witnessed return from ‘dark rooms’ with cuts, bruises, sores and other injuries. The wounds were sometimes reported to be on areas of the body where no marks would be concealed, indicating a premeditated attempt of how best to abuse detainees and avoid accountability; “for example, under the neck, and you know, not to their face”.38 Concerningly, several respondents noted that after individuals were subjected to such attacks, they would be left alone in a room without access to medical care. This contributed to a general atmosphere of pervasive fear, forcing individuals into silence despite the appalling conditions that they reported that they were living in. Respondent 38, Kurdistan (Iran). Detained in Corinth PRDC. I mean places, they were for taking showers and going to the washroom and stuff. But the facilities were not working; nothing was accessible. It was a nightmare living there, especially the last 6 months that I spent inside Korinthos. Respondent 26, Kurdistan (Iran). Detained in Paranesti PRDC. So, about the situation in Fylakio, it was horrible because they have never cared about hygiene. There was nothing, like, there was shit bathroom and toilet and we don’t have access to hygiene as well. And also, about food, it was horrible. Some respondents noted that the perpetrators of violence in detention wore different uniforms to the standard blue police uniform of the Hellenic police, describing instead the presence of individuals wearing black uniforms or civic clothing. This is consistent with violence perpetrated in pushback operations in Greece and is significantly evidenced in BVMN’s online database,39 whereby specific units of police and military are employed to carry out violence against people on the move.40 Respondent 1, Algeria. Detained in Paranesti PRDC. Yeah, because they were hunger striking for food and another time for staying there, for no reason. The same thing happened. They just called a lot of undercover police, with batons and so on, and they started beating everybody. They had the balaclava, you know, and they were in black uniform and they had the Greek flag and they were beating one by one you know. The ones inside the camp were wearing blue uniform, Greek flag, like the usual one that we see. But the ones that came to beat us have big shoes, they are big guys and they have black uniforms. Respondent 38, Kurdistan (Iran). Detained in Corinth PRDC. When police officers were, you know, arresting these people who were fighting, in front of the people they were not beating them, but they were taking them outside their cells and after one or two hours when they brought them back in, back to their cells, we could see that, they were beaten a lot, they cut their faces and also their sores and the they had you could imagine how badly they were beaten by the police officers. Whenever they were coming they were telling them that yes we were beaten, each one of us were beaten by 4 police officers at the same time. They were kicking us, they were slapping us, they were, you know, using their fists, and they were most often hitting or beating in those places where they were thinking there shouldn’t be any kind of sign left. For example, under the neck and, you know, not to show their face. Respondent 10, Afghanistan. Detained in Corinth PRDC. No, they don’t beat in front of the people. Just there is another room, they just took them there. They are seven or six police, just one person. They hang their hands somewhere and then they are four or five police who just beat them as much as they can. They torture them in a really bad way. Respondent 40, Unknown. Detained in Amygdaleza PRDC. I have seen people, especially the Pakistani community. They are always taken down to one cell and get beaten up by the police in Amygdaleza. 12