LISBON (Reuters) - The Portuguese authorities' system of investigating allegations of police violence is dysfunctional and should be subject to an independent review, human rights guardian the Council of Europe said.
The body's anti-torture committee (CPT) published a report on Wednesday following its visit to Portugal last year to look into allegations of ill-treatment of detainees, primarily slaps, punches, strikes with a baton and kicks to the body.
"The Portuguese authorities should undertake an independent review into the way in which investigations of allegations of ill-treatment by police officers are carried out," the report said.
"The majority of persons met by the CPT’s delegation stated that they had been treated correctly whilst in police custody ... (but) the infliction of ill-treatment (by officers) is still not infrequent," it added.
Effective inquiries into the allegations would serve as an "important dissuasive factor for officers involved in acts of ill-treatment," it said.
In the existing system, it said evidence was often not rapidly transmitted to higher instances and, even when it is, no swift action was taken.
The report also highlighted incidents of alleged verbal abuse against prisoners, including officers using racist slurs.
In a response to the CPT's report, Portugal's caretaker government said it was "taking decisive steps to address problems which still persist and which hinder the enjoyment of human rights by all".
(Reporting by Catarina Demony; editing by Barbara Lewis)
