Overview

• On July 31, the CPT of the Council of Europe published a report calling on Catalan authorities to abolish the immobilization of detainees and inmates with straps except under medical supervision
• The review documents allegations of physical ill-treatment by Mossos d’Esquadra officers during arrests and transfers, including slaps, punches and baton blows
• It criticizes prison staff’s excessive use of force and systematic handcuffing of inmates in closed-regime DERT modules, as well as poor cell conditions lacking natural light, adequate ventilation and call bells
• The CPT acknowledges improvements in specialized units, such as shorter detention periods, more treatment staff and expanded activity programs, but highlights that mechanical restraint remains problematic
• In response to the committee’s recommendations, the Spanish Interior Ministry has proposed measures to curb immobilization practices, strengthen prison staffing and enhance detainee management