The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture reported, this case of abuse by the Police Public Ssegurança (PSP), National Republican Guard (GNR) and the Judicial Police (PJ) during arrests and recommends that the Portuguese authorities continue to struggle to end these practices.
The report of the committee of the Council of Europe, today disclosed results of the 6th periodic visit conducted in February 2012 to Portugal, at the request of the Portuguese authorities.
During the journey, the experts of the Council of Europe visited ten squadrons of PSP Lisbon, two of Coimbra and Setúbal, and the seat of PJ and prison annex.
According to the document, the agency Lusa had access to many of the testimonies gathered by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) stated that they had been treated correctly while under police custody.
However, experts have received a number of complaints of ill-treatment by members of the PSP, GNR and PJ during arrests and before arrival at police stations.
The report also highlights complaints of ill-treatment during interrogations made by PJ.
Both in interrogations, as in traveling for squads, maltreatment reported consist mainly of "slaps, punches and kicks in the head and body," says the document.
The CPT is concerned by the lack of action of the Portuguese authorities to punish this kind of behavior, because it encourages impunity by the police.
In this sense, the experts of the European Committee recommend the Portuguese authorities to continue their efforts to ensure that the practices of police ill-treatment end up.
The Committee also suggests that, while an ongoing criminal prosecution and discipline, not assigned to officers involved in these practical tasks involving contact with the population and detainees.
The report also recommends that held by PSP, GNR and PJ should have the right to counsel, including the right to speak to him in private, as noted during the visit, not everyone has access to this right.
In this sense, suggests the achievement of an agreement with the Bar Association to ensure that there is a range of unofficial service with lawyers and they can visit the police stations whenever necessary.
The CPT also calls on the Portuguese authorities to guarantee detainees the right to inform a third party about his arrest and they are aware of their rights during the first hours of detention.
Although most cells in the existing police facilities present a "proper state", the members of the Council of Europe recommended that the Portuguese authorities take the necessary steps to correct some shortcomings.
According to the CPT, any person required to stay overnight in custody should have a mattress, detainees for more than 24 hours must have access to outdoor exercise and all cells should have access to natural light and artificial lighting have.
Along with the release of the report, the Council of Europe published also the responses of the Portuguese Government, which refers to what measures are being taken to investigate alleged cases of ill-treatment by the Portuguese police.
In response, the Portuguese Government also states that the Inspector-General of Home Affairs (IGAI) is being restructured to increase their effectiveness in the investigation of these cases, in addition to providing information on the measures that are being taken to improve the protection of detainees and prevent maltreatment.
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