- 23 Foreign Children (EXPAA) at Amygdaleza, which was the only facility for children in the area of
Attica (for which the Hellenic Police is competent) as a last resort; they were accommodated there
until the completion of the procedures and their transfer to special accommodation premises for
unaccompanied foreign children.
Because of the sensitive status of children and having been notified that the holding facilities
(EXPAA of Amygdaleza) may not meet the requirements (closed detention facilities), it was decided
to transfer the children to the 2nd sector of the Pre-Departure Detention Centre for Foreign Nationals
(PROKEKA) of Amygdaleza, where holding conditions are excellent, with fully-equipped
renovated houses, proper sanitary conditions, exercise yard and free internet access, always separate
from adult detainees.
This facility consists of eight (8) apartment-type houses, with two (2) bedrooms that comprise
berths, with two (2) air conditioners each, two (2) WC with showers and two (2) boilers.
There is a special room for entertainment with a TV set. Access to the yard is allowed around the
clock, and there is a playground and a pediatric practice nearby.
A private cleaning crew cleans all communal areas of the detention facilities and the cells every
day. A private crew disinfects and debugs the premises and issues a relevant certificate.
The Directorate of Foreign Nationals of Attica and various NGOs procure the provision of shoes,
clothes, slippers, sanitary items etc. to the children.
Paragraph 48: Recommendation to the Greek authorities to immediately stop using Petrou Ralli
Special Holding Facility for irregular migrants for holding UASC. It also reiterates that
Amygdaleza special holding facilities for unaccompanied children should no longer be used for
holding UASC. If, exceptionally, they are held in this latter facility for short periods pending its
closure, they should be provided with:
decent and hygienic material conditions
bed linen, sufficient hygiene products and the possibility to wash their clothes
access to their personal belongings and to their mobile phones
adequate hours of organised activities every day, and possibilities to exercise in the fresh air
outside of the small barred covered yard.
Further, it should be staffed with properly trained men and women, including a social worker and a
psychologist, and offer a range of age-appropriate purposeful activities.
The Hellenic Police gives great importance to respecting, guaranteeing, protecting and safeguarding
the children's rights during their detention and arrest by police authorities and, to this end, orders
and instructions have been issued for their treatment by police agents.
It is pointed out in particular that, in any event, all official actions should be legitimate and taken on
the basis that every child has fundamental rights responding to their individual needs; such actions
should aim to provide substantial and effective assistance to them, should be characterized by a
spirit of sensitivity and humanity, respect to dignity, individuality and particularity of the juvenile
delinquent or victim and promote the anthropocentric image of the Hellenic Police and, by
extension, of the Greek State.
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