The main objective of the talks, which took place on 13 June 2016, was to discuss the implementation of the CPT’s long-standing recommendations aiming at stopping the practice of holding remand prisoners in police establishments (“police prisons”) and equipping all prison cells with toilets. The talks were also an opportunity to learn about other developments since the CPT’s last visit to Finland, including the recent transfer of the responsibility for prison health-care service from the Ministry of Justice to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. The talks were open, detailed and constructive, and all participants expressed the wish to reinforce co-operation on matters falling within the CPT’s mandate.

The CPT’s delegation, composed of George TUGUSHI (the Head of the delegation which carried out the CPT’s 2014 visit), Pétur HAUKSSON (psychiatrist, former CPT’s 2nd Vice-President, expert) and Borys WÓDZ (Head of Division at the CPT’s Secretariat) met Jari LINDSTRÖM, Minister of Justice and Employment, and several senior officials from the Ministry of Justice, the Criminal Sanctions Agency, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and National Institute of Health and Welfare.