Back Anti-torture committee publishes a report on Portugal

Committee urges to tackle police ill-treatment and the poor treatment of prisoners
Anti-torture committee publishes a report on Portugal

In a report on Portugal published today, the Council of Europe's anti-torture committee (CPT) urges the Portuguese authorities to take determined action to prevent police ill-treatment and to provide prisoners with safe and decent living conditions.

During its 2016 periodic visit to the country, the CPT’s delegation received a considerable number of credible allegations of ill-treatment at the time of apprehension and during police custody.  The alleged ill-treatment consisted primarily of slaps, punches and kicks to the body and head as well as beatings with batons. The CPT concludes that the resort to ill-treatment, including for the purpose of obtaining confessions, is not infrequent. Persons of African descent, both Portuguese citizens and foreign nationals, appear to be at greater risk of being ill-treated.

The report calls for vigorous action to address this problem and to strengthen the effectiveness of investigations into cases of ill-treatment, notably by increasing the competences and resources allocated to the Inspectorate General of Home Affairs (IGAI). In their response, the Portuguese authorities recall the steps being taken to tackle ill-treatment by the police and make reference to the ongoing process to amend the Organic Law on IGAI.

Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) Strasbourg 27 February 2018
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