TORTURE EUROPE DENOUNCES MISTREATMENT BY POLICE IN PORTUGAL

Torture Europe denounces mistreatment of police in Portugal

The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture reported, this case of abuse by the Police Public Ssegurança (PSP), National Republican Guard (GNR) and the Judicial Police (PJ) during arrests and recommends that the Portuguese authorities continue to struggle to end these practices.

The report of the committee of the Council of Europe, today disclosed results of the 6th periodic visit conducted in February 2012 to Portugal, at the request of the Portuguese authorities.
During the journey, the experts of the Council of Europe visited ten squadrons of PSP Lisbon, two of Coimbra and Setúbal, and the seat of PJ and prison annex.
According to the document, the agency Lusa had access to many of the testimonies gathered by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) stated that they had been treated correctly while under police custody.
However, experts have received a number of complaints of ill-treatment by members of the PSP, GNR and PJ during arrests and before arrival at police stations.
The report also highlights complaints of ill-treatment during interrogations made by PJ.
Both in interrogations, as in traveling for squads, maltreatment reported consist mainly of "slaps, punches and kicks in the head and body," says the document.
The CPT is concerned by the lack of action of the Portuguese authorities to punish this kind of behavior, because it encourages impunity by the police.
In this sense, the experts of the European Committee recommend the Portuguese authorities to continue their efforts to ensure that the practices of police ill-treatment end up.
The Committee also suggests that, while an ongoing criminal prosecution and discipline, not assigned to officers involved in these practical tasks involving contact with the population and detainees.
The report also recommends that held by PSP, GNR and PJ should have the right to counsel, including the right to speak to him in private, as noted during the visit, not everyone has access to this right.
In this sense, suggests the achievement of an agreement with the Bar Association to ensure that there is a range of unofficial service with lawyers and they can visit the police stations whenever necessary.
The CPT also calls on the Portuguese authorities to guarantee detainees the right to inform a third party about his arrest and they are aware of their rights during the first hours of detention.
Although most cells in the existing police facilities present a "proper state", the members of the Council of Europe recommended that the Portuguese authorities take the necessary steps to correct some shortcomings.
According to the CPT, any person required to stay overnight in custody should have a mattress, detainees for more than 24 hours must have access to outdoor exercise and all cells should have access to natural light and artificial lighting have.
Along with the release of the report, the Council of Europe published also the responses of the Portuguese Government, which refers to what measures are being taken to investigate alleged cases of ill-treatment by the Portuguese police.
In response, the Portuguese Government also states that the Inspector-General of Home Affairs (IGAI) is being restructured to increase their effectiveness in the investigation of these cases, in addition to providing information on the measures that are being taken to improve the protection of detainees and prevent maltreatment.

http://www.noticiasaominuto.com/pais/65594/europa-denuncia-maus-tratos-da-pol%C3%ADcia-em-portugal#.UXiSPLvLiW4

Police say cases of ill-treatment in detention are sporadic


The President of the Socio-Professional Police Association (ASPP / PSP), Paulo Rodrigues, lamented on Wednesday that the complaint of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture cases of ill-treatment by the PSP, GNR and PJ during arrests not refer to cases of ill-treatment by members of the PSP are sporadic. "Whoever reads the report in a very general seem to have a situation that recurs in the police and in fact is not, and are specific situations that happen occurrences in the most serious and violent that we face, "said Paul Roberts, quoted by TVI24 . leader of the ASPP regretted, therefore, that "the report does not mention that are specific situations and over the years has made ​​a positive development. " 'The police have made ​​an evolution in this area extremely important if we compare with reality for 30 or 40 years, "he stressed, assuming that the specific situations that persist' must be corrected and definitely eliminated." Judicial Police also denies violence also the Association of Employees of the Judicial Police Criminal Investigation (ASFIC / PJ) denies situations of violence against detainees complained in the report of the Council of Europe, whereas the situations mentioned "should be isolated cases." Quoted by JN , President of ASFIC / PJ, Carlos Garcia, caveat that the report, released yesterday, "all situations covered are pointed to the PSP and GNR and the police stations and posts these police», stressing that there is no PJ in similar cases . "In PJ is fulfilled the law, so do not know how those situations. Violence or torture against detainees is not part of the proceedings of the employees of the PJ, "assured Carlos Garcia.

http://www.abola.pt/mundos/ver.aspx?id=397368

Very interesting, Max, thanks. I am not sure I believe the protestations, though - 'sporadic' incidents indeed!

6th visit from the European Committee , much talk about it from the European Committee, but, where are the actions against those who acts with such ways, from the European Committee?

although, only in cases of rapists, paedophiles, these criminals deserves torture.

About: "Violence or torture against detainees is not part of the proceedings of the employees of the PJ, "assured Carlos Garcia.", I have a question for you Carlos Garcia, how do you consider the torture against Leonor Cipriano, from corrupt, incompetent, liar, coward gonçalo amaral with others, it seems to me that you Carlos Garcia are not fully informed about that issue.

No-one should be tortured, Pedro, it achieves nothing, except to drag the rest of society down to the level of barbarians.

Even purely pragmatically, torture is pointless, as confessions gained under duress have no value whatsoever; the victim will say anything, incriminate anyone, to stop it.

about: No-one should be tortured, it achieves nothing, except to drag the rest of society down to the level of barbarians.", I understand / respect your opinion, but, for me, if you want to talk about level of barbarians, then, you tell that to their victims, which, surely, they probably will disagree with you bb1.
I agree with you bb1 about this comment:

"Even purely pragmatically, torture is pointless, as confessions gained under duress have no value whatsoever; the victim will say anything, incriminate anyone, to stop it."

And that is why the police must be clean and run fair investigations, and why courts, judges and juries must be properly run, Pedro. Otherwise, we may as well go back to burning witches, or lynching people.

Understandably, there were many instances of individuals taking revenge after the fall of the Nazis, but the Allies put as many war criminals on trial as possible at Nuremberg.

No-one would have blamed Israel for putting a bullet in Eichmann when he was found, but instead, he was put on trial, unharmed, for the whole world to see.

An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.

I agree with you bb1:

"that is why the police must be clean and run fair investigations, and why courts, judges and juries must be properly run", but, I believe that sometimes is difficult for the victims or for their relatives the way police, judges, courts behave about these issues.