The National Preventive Mechanism against Ill-treatment in Detention (NPM) today released two visit reports concerning the Portalis and Poelaert cell complexes within the Brussels Palace of Justice. The visits, conducted by the Comité P, revealed several issues related to conditions of deprivation of liberty, echoing recent findings by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT). A total of 35 recommendations have been made to improve detention conditions and the care of detained persons.
These reports are part of the NPM's mission, established within the Federal Institute for Human Rights (IFDH), which aims to prevent ill-treatment by regularly visiting places where individuals are deprived of liberty. The visits were carried out by the Comité P, one of the NPM's specialized bodies.
Each year, numerous individuals are held in the Poelaert and Portalis cells at the Brussels Palace of Justice, sometimes for several hours or even a full day, while awaiting appearance before a judge or the public prosecutor's office. During the first six months of 2025, nearly 6,500 people passed through the Portalis cells. At Poelaert, between 80 and 150 people are processed each working day.
The findings of the NPM and Comité P align with concerns recently raised by the CPT regarding detention conditions. At Portalis, the NPM and Comité P consider the cells unsuitable for detention, even for short periods. They believe that the project for a centralized cell complex, currently under study, could offer a concrete and lasting solution.
In total, 35 recommendations have been submitted to the authorities: 24 concerning Portalis and 11 concerning Poelaert. These recommendations address infrastructure, the organization of care, and respect for the rights of detained persons. They notably recommend strengthening staffing and surveillance at Portalis, ensuring access to sufficient drinking water and a meal at Poelaert, improving medical and medication follow-up, and better managing the care of vulnerable individuals.
The NPM and Comité P are continuing their dialogue with the relevant authorities – including the police, the SPF Justice, the Régie des bâtiments, and judicial authorities – to ensure the follow-up of these recommendations.
