A 2-day awareness raising training focusing on the practical application of the Prison Health Department (PHD) Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in police custody and during transfer and admission to correctional facilities took place from 24-25 November 2025.

This activity gathered police officers working in holding and detention cells together with representatives of the Police Inspectorate of Kosovo (PIK), National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) of the Ombudsperson Institution, Kosovo Correctional Service (KCS), Prison Health Department of the Ministry of Health of Kosovo, and civil society.

Through case studies and scenario-based exercises, participants strengthened their ability to implement key provisions of the SOP in police custody, including conducting initial medical screening, documenting findings, ensuring confidentiality, managing communicable disease risks, maintaining medication continuity, and taking actions regarding detainees with mental illness.

In addition, police officers improved their understanding in utilising Istanbul Protocol consistent tools for reporting and documenting injuries and learned about different ways to deal with practical challenges such as refusal of food or medication, early signs of self-harm risk, and the steps required for timely referrals and reporting.

As a result, participants reported enhanced confidence in applying health care procedures in police custody, clearer understanding of what to document, when to seek further assistance and ways to improve coordination during handovers between police, healthcare providers, oversight bodies and KCS.

The trainings were organized under the auspices of the Council of Europe project “Improvement of the treatment of persons deprived of liberty”.

* All reference to Kosovo, whether to the territory, institutions or population, in this text shall be understood in full compliance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 and without prejudice to the status of Kosovo