Pristina, 30 November – The given Report is based on the visit of the National Preventive Mechanism of Torture (NPMT), accomplished on 30 and 31 October 2018 in the following Police Stations: Shtime, Ferizaj, Graçanicë, Gjilan, Ranillug, Kaçanik, Shtërpcë, Viti, Kamenicë dhe Novobërdë.

During the visit in abovementioned stations, Kosovo Police provided full cooperation to NMPT. The team had access to all facilities without delays. The team was provided with all information necessary to discharge the duty and access to all requested documents, as well as enabled interviewing arrested persons without the presence of police officers.

NPMT, during the visit, encountered arrested persons solely in the police station in Gjilan and Viti, who have been interviewed by the Mechanism and received no complaints on physical ill-treatment or excessive use of physical force by police officers during the time of arrest. Further, the NPMT did not receive any compliant regarding basic rights of person arrested by the police. NPMT observed that each prison cell had written information in relation to the rights of arrested persons in three languages (Albanian, English and Serbian).

As per physical conditions, the NPMT has observed that the working conditions in this station are very bad, with one interrogation room that is located outside the police building where the interrogations are to be conducted, and where the arrest files are kept and where the arrested person is detained up to 6 hours. Police Station of Shtime has no detention centre, arrested persons are sent to Detention Centre in Ferizaj.

Poor physical and material conditions have been detected by the NPMT in Police station in Ferizaj as well, where cells are not sufficiently naturally enlightened, whereas the artificial lighting was poor.  NPMT also observed that the building retains moisture and mould smell, and the hygiene was not at the appropriate level. Cells where arrested persons are located lack sheets, pillows and toiletries.

Detention Centre in the Police Station in Kaçanik, has not been functional in the last 5 years. This centre has been closed as it does not meet the hygiene conditions while arrested persons are held in the interrogation room up to 6 hours.

NPMT has observed that the accommodation and physical conditions in Police Stations in Graçanicë, Gjilan, Ranillug and Viti, generally meet the minimum standards for accommodation of arrested persons.

It is very distressing the fact that in Police Station in Shtërpcë, in one of interrogation room, NPMT has found three tough objects, which, according to the police officers, were confiscated objects from arrested persons at the crime scene and are kept there as evidence. NPMT recommended police officers that such objects should be removed immediately from the room in which the arrested persons are interviewed and are placed in the appropriate place.

In all visited police stations, NPMT observed that arrested persons are not supplied with personal hygiene products. NPMT considers that relevant authorities should undertake concrete steps to supply detention centres with hygiene products.

Additionally, in all police stations visited, NPMT observed that toilets are separated from the other part of the cell with an inadequate wall (low-sized) to guarantee the respect of detainees’ privacy. The NPMT considers that responsible authorities should undertake necessary actions to guarantee the detainees’ privacy.

Thus, based on findings during the visit, NPMT recommends the Kosovo Police: to perform the necessary renovations on the Detention Centre in the Police Station in Ferizaj,  to equip all toilets of cells of detention centres in visited police stations with a separation wall in view of privacy,  to remove tough objects – alleged to have been seized as evidence – from rooms where arrested or detained persons are interrogated or held in all police stations, to inform NPMT of the date when the Police Station in Shtime is to be functionalized, to provide detainees with personal hygiene products.

Report with recommenadation you will find: LINK

Public Information Office of OIK