Detention centres host foreign nationals of different nationalities and cultures.These foreign nationals are being detained for their return. Living together can be challenging. However, the management strives to manage the inevitable tensions and situations and ensure the stay is calm and respectful of the rules.
The management ensures the safety of the residents and the centre and tries to make their lives as pleasant as possible during their stay there.
1. Reception
As soon as a arrives in a closed centre, the various teams receive and take care of them. The teams identify the person, by taking a photograph and fingerprints, carry out a medical consultation to detect possible infectious diseases, determine the diet, inventory their possessions, search for and seize dangerous objects, etc.
2. Legal assistance
Legal assistance should be available to residents if they want it. Contacts with lawyers must be facilitated. A lawyer is provided if the resident does not have financial resources.
3. Worship
The moral and religious regime is respected in the detention centres. As well as holding religious worship, the resident may call upon a priest, pastor, Imam, or counsellor representing a non-denominational school of thought to assist them.
Religious holidays and special ceremonies related to them are also respected.
4. Visits
The residents have the right to receive visits from:
- their family members daily for at least one hour a day
- diplomatic or consular representatives of the State of which they are nationals between 8.00 am and 10.00 pm.
- lawyers and interpreters who assist them every day between 8.00 am and 10.00 pm
Other persons may be allowed to visit with prior authorisation from the centre's management. Visiting hours are specified in the welcome brochure for residents.
In addition to the authorities and institutions mentioned in Articles 42 to 44 of the Royal Decree of 02/08/2002, representatives from accredited associations or NGOs also have the right to acces detention centres.
5. Communication with the outside world.
Residents can make phone calls and freely send and receive letters. They also have access to the internet.
6. Free time
Recreational, cultural, educational and sports activities are organised to relax the residents .
7. The library and media access
Each centre has a small library available to the residents. It includes a wide variety of works in different languages.
Television, DVDs and videos are available, along with a selection of newspapers and magazines in various languages.
8. Food
An external company provides food. The diet of the residents (e.g. vegetarian) is taken into account. The staff eats the same meal as the residents.
9. Hygiene
Laundry is done partly on-site by the centre's staff for the occupants' clothes while a private firm handles the laundering of sheets, pillowcases, blankets, and other items.
10. Disciplinary action
A disciplinary action may be taken against a resident if they intentionally deface property belonging to the centre or endanger the safety of other residents or staff members.
Any action taken against a resident must be justified.
The disciplinary measures applied are:
- verbal warning;
- tasks related to the order and cleanliness of the centre;
- the removal of benefits, provided there is a direct or indirect link between the offence and the measure;
- placement in an isolation room.
The decision to place a resident in an isolation room can only be taken by the centre's management; the maximum duration of the isolation is 24 hours. If the resident 's behaviour makes it impossible for them to be integrated into the group, the Director General may decide to extend this 24-hour period twice. Only can decide on the extension after this period.