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The Council of Europe body which inspects Prisons and Police Stations, the Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT), has expressed criticism of the detention facilities at the infamous Paddington Green Police Station in London where suspects can be held without charge for up to 28 days.
The CPT carried out an inspection in between 2-6 December 2007 and have reiterated earlier criticisms voived following visits in 2005 saying:
"The CPT made clear in its July and November 2005 visit reports that the conditions of detention at Paddington Green Police Station, whilst adequate for custody periods of a few days, were not suitable for prolonged periods of detention. Regrettably, the CPT’s delegation noted in the course of the December 2007 visit that no improvements have been made to the conditions of detention in this police station. It is high time that this problem was resolved
The cells in the secure custody suite were of a reasonable size (approximately 8.5m), had adequate artificial lighting and ventilation, and were equipped with a call system, a means of rest (raised platform) and a toilet. Detained persons were offered a mattress and blankets, and the cells were clean. Arrangements for the provision of food were also satisfactory and the necessary measures were taken to observe the religious rites of the detainees.
However, the cells provided a very austere environment and there was minimal access to natural light. Further, outside exercise was still not systematically offered every day and, when it did take place, it was limited to under 20 minutes and took place under unsatisfactory conditions (a cordoned off section of the vehicle park). The norm should be that all persons held in detention for more than 24 hours are offered the opportunity to take outdoor exercise every day.
The CPT considers that such conditions are not acceptable for persons held for periods of up to 14 days (let alone 28 or 42), and other bodies have supported this view. The CPT calls upon the United Kingdom authorities to take the necessary measures to improve the conditions of detention at Paddington Green High Security Police Station for persons held under the Terrorism Act 2000 for longer than a few days."
The Committtee also expressed its reservations about the desire of the United Kingdom government to extend the 28 day detention period to 42 days saying:
"The existing - and a fortiori possible new - provisions regarding the permissible length of pre-charge detention in cases falling under the terrorism legislation are a matter of considerable concern to the CPT. The Committee has no intention of entering into the current debate on the arguments for and against the length of pre-charge detention of terrorist suspects in the United Kingdom. However, as the CPT has emphasised in the past, in the interests of the prevention of ill-treatment, the sooner a criminal suspect passes into the hands of a custodial authority which is functionally and institutionally separate from the police, the better. Consequently, the Committee must insist that neither the existing nor any new provisions in this area should result in criminal suspects spending a prolonged period of time in police custody."
The criticisms of Paddington Green detention facilities and lengths of detention which suspects are subjected to is long overdue. What is not often appreciated is that most persons held at this facility are ultimately released without charge having been subjected to pyscholological pressures for prolonged periods which are shameful in a so-called democratic society which prides itself on its criminal justice system.
The full CPT report can be found at:
An illustration of facilities at Paddington Green can be found here:
J B Moffatt
Director of Information Celtic League 29/10/08
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