He Committee against the torture of the Council of European institution that ensures respect for human rights in the continent, has published this Thursday a report in which denounces the practice of binding prisoners to beds in prisons and minor centers in Catalunya in addition to Bad treatment in prisons and police stationsurging the authorities to end.
In November 2024, members of the committee traveled to Catalonia to examine The treatment received by people detained in prison and in police station. The mission paid special attention to the closed regime centers (Special Departments of Closed Regime). In total, they visited Five police stationsin addition to the headquarters of the National Police and the Civil Guard, the Penitentiary centers by Brians I, Brians II, Lledoners, Quatre Camins, Joves and the Terrassa Prison Hospital Penitentiary Hospital, in addition to the Els Tillers children’s center.
The report concludes that the mechanical fixation of inmates for disciplinary purposes, that is, tie them to the beds, “It is still problematic”. The Committee considers that this practice is “a risk of ill -treatment”, in some cases reaching put them face down and manage injections by force. The measure is especially worrying when it comes to prisoners with mental disorders.
That same practice It is also used in minors centers, although in the therapeutic unit. The Council of Europe requires abolishing and looking for alternatives to Calm violent inmates or prisoners, In the case of prisons, opting for internment in padded cells. If you opt for immobilization, the report insists, It should only be carried out in a medical and supervised environment.
Mossos bad treatment
In the report, the committee ensures that although most detained persons who were interviewed claimed to have been treated correctly, Some denounced ill -treatment. The report speaks of “Bowls, punches, and blows with cheers” at the time of arrest or during the transfer to the police station, by Mossos d’Esquadra agents.
Among the testimonies collected by the report, Some detainees report having been dragged on the ground when they were handcuffed. Others talk about strangulation attempts, having been beaten until you lose knowledge or how agents had put a gun in their heads as a threat.
In several cases, “The complaints were corroborated by medical certificates” After the detainees had to be transferred to a hospital or health center, or once they entered prison. In addition to the blows, the report refers how The wives are excessively tightened to the detainees, OA verbal insults by police officers against detainees. This is particularly usual among detainees of foreign origin, According to the report.
The Council of Europe too censure the practice of performing medical exams to detained people while they are handcuffed, and in the presence of agents. The report also criticizes Bad conditions in the police station and demands to correct structural deficiencies such as the lack of natural light, ventilation, water or call timbres.
Penitentiary centers
Also prisoners They denounce ill -treatment and excessive use of force by penitentiary staff. In particular, these would have taken place “in the context of Episodes of agitation of the prisoners “or” increasingly intense altercations with the staff “but also” during Passive resistance cases to the orders of the penitentiary personnel ”.
While in the case of closed regime centers The mission has identified certain improvements such as the reduction of detention time or a greater presence of health personnel specialized, although he laments the Lack of psychiatric assistance For prisoners with mental disorders.
In general, the Council of Europe claims a greater commitment from the authorities to improve conditions in centers and prisons. It also demands A tolerance policy zero with ill -treatment and excessive use of force. But also, ask for a Substantial improvement of the observed injury system In detainees during their custody, so that possible cases of ill -treatment can be investigated.
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