News Flash
Preliminary observations by Council of Europe anti-torture
Committee (CPT) after visit to Finland in
April 2008
Strasbourg - 10.06.2008 – The CPT’s fourth periodic visit to Finland, carried
out in April 2008, provided an opportunity to assess the progress made since the
previous periodic visit in 2003. The Committee’s delegation examined, in
particular, the safeguards offered to persons detained by the police, and the
situation of remand prisoners held in police detention facilities and of foreign
nationals held under aliens legislation. The delegation stressed again that
remand prisoners should not be held in police cells, and requested the Finnish
authorities to provide detailed information about the steps envisaged to
eliminate this practice. The delegation also noted that persons deprived of
their liberty under aliens legislation were still sometimes held in police
establishments. The Finnish authorities were requested to consider the
possibility of opening a second holding facility for aliens such as the one
visited in Metsälä, which on the whole offered adequate conditions.
The CPT’s delegation also examined in detail various issues related to prisons,
in particular the phenomenon of inter-prisoner violence and intimidation as well
as the situation of prisoners held in high security and closed units. Despite
significant efforts to combat inter-prisoner violence/intimidation, it appeared
that the most vulnerable prisoners were still not provided with an appropriate
regime in a safe environment. The delegation also stressed that more could and
should be done to ensure that prisoners held in conditions of high security or
control enjoy a relatively relaxed regime within the confines of their units.
As regards Vantaa Prison, the delegation was impressed by the high quality of
the prisoner accommodation; however, the original concept of a modern remand
prison offering a variety of regimes while taking into account the interests of
justice was compromised by overcrowding. The delegation took note of the
refurbishment work carried out at Riihimäki and Helsinki Prisons. That said, the
delegation was concerned to learn that Helsinki Prison was the only
establishment not to be included in the future national investment plan aimed at
reducing the number of “slopping out” cells. The delegation requested the
Finnish authorities to reconsider their position on this matter.
In addition, the delegation visited a State psychiatric hospital for forensic
patients and civil patients considered dangerous or otherwise challenging (Vanha
Vaasa Hospital) and, for the first time in Finland, a psychiatric unit for
adolescent intensive care (EVA Unit in Pitkäniemi). As regards the latter
establishment, the delegation noted with concern that some of the juvenile
patients were prevented from going outdoors, on occasion for weeks on end.
Further, at the Vanha Vaasa Hospital, there appeared to be an excessive reliance
on seclusion. The delegation requested the Finnish authorities to draw up a
detailed action plan to reduce significantly recourse to seclusion at the
above-mentioned establishment.
The preliminary observations are published with the agreement of the Finnish
authorities.
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