The CPT's delegation reviewed developments concerning the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty by law enforcement agencies, as well as legal remedies in cases involving allegations of ill-treatment. The CPT concluded that the problem of ill-treatment of persons in police custody remained a serious problem, and made detailed recommendations on the obligations of judges and prosecutors to ensure that allegations of police ill-treatment are properly investigated and pursued.

The CPT also recommended that steps be taken as a matter of urgency to radically improve regime activities in remand prisons throughout the country and identified specific measures to be implemented in Skopje (Bardovci) Psychiatric Hospital and Demir Kapija Special Institution for mentally disabled persons.

In their response, the national authorities described the various measures taken to implement the CPT's recommendations. They highlighted in particular the provision of professional training to new police officers, the adoption of a new Code of Police Ethics, efforts to surmount the problem of inadequate staffing levels in the prison system, as well as steps to improve the situation in the fields of mental health and social care.

The CPT's report and the Government's response, which have been published at the request of the national authorities, are available on the Committee's website: http://www.cpt.coe.int