The report is published at the Slovenian authorities' request, together with their response. It covers the CPT's second visit to Slovenia, which took place in September 2001.

Persons deprived of their liberty by the police in Slovenia are generally treated correctly. Nevertheless, the CPT has emphasised the need to exercise continuing vigilance in this area. In their response, the Slovenian authorities indicate that police training has been further improved and that police complaints procedures will be made more effective in the future. Further positive developments include the continuing refurbishment of all police stations and the planned closing down of the centre for aliens in Ljubljana and the opening of a new facility in Postojna.

Since the CPT's first visit to Slovenia in 1995, the country's prison population has grown by more than 80% and has resulted in overcrowding in certain establishments. The Committee has proposed measures to curb this trend. In this connection, the Slovenian authorities have taken steps to make increased use of probation and early release. The CPT has also made recommendations to improve remand prisoners' contacts with their families; the Slovenian authorities have subsequently introduced measures to this effect.

As regards social welfare establishments and psychiatric hospitals, the Committee has stressed that net-beds are not an appropriate means of dealing with agitated residents or patients. In their response, the Slovenian authorities emphasise that discontinuation of the use of net-beds is in progress throughout the country. The authorities also refer to measures aimed at improving living conditions at the two psychiatric establishments visited by the CPT, such as replacing large dormitories by smaller rooms.

The report is available on the following website : http://cpt.coe.int