Police stations burdened by too many inmates

Holding cells at police stations all around the country have become little more than prisons for some 700 people arrested, as they may spend as much as four months or even sit out their entire jail term in ?temporary? detention while their cases are processed.

Police sources told Kathimerini that there are currently some 700 inmates in cells at police stations, which have neither the facilities nor the security standards of regular prisons.

According to a source at the Ministry of Public Order, who spoke to Kathimerini on the condition of anonymity, ?40 percent of the inmates handled by the police should have been transferred to prison. The police simply cannot handle the situation.?