Preventing deaths in police custody

Reply to Written question | Doc. 16298 | 03 December 2025

Author(s):

Committee of Ministers

Origin

Adopted at the 1533rd meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies (3 July 2025). 2026 - First part-session

Reply to Written question

: Written question no. 794 (Doc. 16100)

1. In reply to the Honourable Member’s question, the Committee of Ministers has received information from the Spanish authorities affirming that in all situations where a person dies in police custody, a judicial authority intervenes. Such events are subject to oversight by external and independent institutions, including the Spanish Ombudsman in its capacity as the National Preventive Mechanism against Torture.

2. Spain has also created the National Office for the Guarantee of Human Rights in 2022 in the Ministry of Interior to ensure that the State security forces comply with national and international standards against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, in line with CPT obligations.

3. Furthermore, the Committee was informed that, in 2024, Spain adopted a series of preventive measures focusing on self-harm and suicide by detainees, which has resulted in a reduction in suicides.

4. As concerns the events of June 2022, and referring to its reply to Written Question No. 788 by Ms Laura Castel: “Results of the investigation into the Melilla tragedy”, adopted on 6 March 2024 at the 1491st meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies, the Committee reiterates that it took note of the statement of the Public Prosecutor’s Office that Spain had no jurisdiction over the actions of Moroccan law enforcement agents operating in Moroccan territory.

5. The Committee of Ministers recalls that a CPT delegation carried out an ad hoc visit to Spain from 25 November to 5 December 2024, focusing on prison and police establishments in Catalonia, and that the CPT announced last year that it would carry out periodic visits to eight countries in 2025, including Spain.