In a new report the Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) stresses again the need for the Portuguese authorities to establish an effective and dissuasive system to investigate ill-treatment by the police, a recurring problem in the country over the years (see the executive summary of the report).
The report contains the findings of the latest CPT visit to the country, from 23 May to 3 June 2022. The main objective of the visit was to the examine the treatment of persons apprehended by the Public Security Police (PSP) and the National Republican Guard (GNR) and to evaluate once again the effectiveness of investigations into allegations of police ill-treatment. The visit also aimed to scrutinise the situation of women held in prison and the treatment of patients held at the Psychiatric Clinic of Santa Cruz do Bispo Prison and at the Forensic Unit of Magalhães Lemos Hospital in Porto.
The CPT found that ill-treatment of apprehended persons by officers of the PSP and GNR is still a frequent practice. The alleged ill-treatment concerned primarily slaps, punches, strikes with a baton and kicks to the body after the person had been brought under control. In its report, the CPT requests the Portuguese authorities to reinforce their efforts to eradicate police ill-treatment.
In their response, the Portuguese authorities provide information on the measures taken to implement the CPT recommendations. The CPT report and the response of the Portuguese authorities have been made public at the request of the Portuguese Government.
