National Preventive Mechanism addressed a recommendation to the Secretary of State of Justice
The National Preventive Mechanism, following a visit to the Department of Criminal Investigation of Braga of the Judicial Police, held on November 18th of 2016, addressed a recommendation to the Secretary of State of Justice, in which was recommended the adoption of measures in order to improve the safety and working conditions of that institution’s staff.
The function of the National Preventive Mechanism was committed to the Portuguese Ombudsman in 2013, as result of the ratification, by the Portuguese State, of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
The National Preventive Mechanism is an autonomous and independent body with the mission to conduct regular and periodic visits to places where persons are deprived or limited in their liberty, such as prisons, educational centres and detention areas of the police forces. Since the effective beginning of its activity – that dates back to the second half of 2014 –, 122 visits were carried out to investigate the adequacy of the treatment to which these persons are subjected, thus preventing behaviors that could be considered as torture or ill-treatment.