Published on 23 September 2024
FIRST SECTION
Application no. 40158/20
Łukasz SALAMON against Poland
and 4 other applications
(see list appended)
communicated on 4 September 2024
SUBJECT MATTER OF THE CASE
The applications concern strip searches the applicants had to undergo while imprisoned. None of the applicants were classified as “dangerous detainees” and they lodged complaints and appeals with various bodies of the prison system and the judiciary but all of them were dismissed (see the appended table for details).
The applicants complain, under Article 8 of the Convention, that the strip searches violated their right to respect for their private lives.
QUESTION TO THE PARTIES
Do the relevant facts of the applications give rise to a violation of the applicants’ right to their private lives contrary to Article 8 of the Convention (see Milka v. Poland, no. 14322/12, §§ 41-50, 15 September 2015, and Dejnek v. Poland, no. 9635/13, §§ 70-77, 1 June 2017; compare also Bojar v. Poland [Committee], no. 11148/18, §§ 8-18, 11 May 2023)?
Reference is made to the applicants’ allegations concerning the circumstances of the strip searches which were numerous, routine and carried out without any apparent justification.
APPENDIX
No.
Application no.
Case name
Introduction date
Applicant’s name
Year of birth
Place of residence
Representative’s name
Location
Place of detention (and the relevant periods if multiple)
Alleged number of strip searches
Period in question
Circumstances of strip searches as submitted by the applicant
Domestic remedies used
1.
40158/20
Salamon v. Poland
01/09/2020
Łukasz SALAMON
1988
Nysa
Honorata KRUK
Wroclaw
Cracow Remand Centre (29/04/2009 – 09/06/2009)
Łódź Prison no. 2 (28/07/2011 – 31/08/2011)
Cieszyn Prison
(23/11/2012 – 03/06/2013)
Bielsko-Biała Remand Centre (23/10/2013 – 20/11/2013)
Katowice Remand Centre (17/09/2015 – 23/09/2015)
Opole Lubelskie Prison (24/09/2015 – 16/07/2018)
Rzeszów Prison (16/07/2018 – 18/07/2018)
Strzelce Opolskie Prison no. 1 (26/07/2018 - ongoing)
125
29/04/2009 - 12/12/2019
On admission to and before leaving each facility; after received visits; during general controls.
One complaint lodged with each competent Director of Remand Centre and Prison Governor between 29/01/2020 and 28/02/2020 (all dismissed). Appeals lodged with the competent Regional Inspectorates of the Prison Service were all dismissed between 08/04/2020 and 08/06/2020.
2.
9031/21
Staskow v. Poland
14/01/2021
Andrzej STAŚKOW
1978
Świętochłowice
Bytom Remand Centre (11/04/2009 - 17/07/2009)
Gliwice Remand Centre (17/07/2009 - 14/12/2009)
Sieradz Prison
(14/12/2009 - 18/05/2015)
Wrocław Prison no. 1 (18/05/2015 - 08/12/2015)
Strzelce Opolskie Prison no. 1 (08/12/2015 - ongoing)
2,937
12/04/2009 – 08/03/2020
Each time before leaving and on admission to all places of detention; before and after every day of work, after every received visit; during general controls.
One complaint lodged with each competent Director of Remand Centre and Prison Governor between 27/08/2020 and 03/09/2020. Appeals lodged with the competent Regional Inspectorates of the Prison Service between 10/09/2020 and 05/10/2020. All of the complaints and appeals were dismissed save for one appeal (lodged with the Wrocław Regional Inspectorate of the Prison Service on 22/09/2020) which appears to have been left unanswered.
3.
51043/21
Łysień v. Poland
06/10/2021
Grzegorz ŁYSIEŃ
1992
Stargard
Stargard Prison (Szczecin Remand Centre - External Ward in Stargard)
40
06/06/2021 - 07/12/2021
Upon leaving and returning to the residential ward; after received visits; upon return from school.
Complaints lodged between 07/06/2021 and 12/12/2021 with the penitentiary court and the Prison Governor were all dismissed between 21/06/2021 and 27/12/2021.
4.
61581/21
Dylong v. Poland
03/12/2021
Paweł DYLONG
1990
Nysa
Strzelce Opolskie Prison no. 1
23
18/05/2021 - 05/11/2021
Upon return from work
Complaint of 08/11/2021 was dismissed by the Prison Governor on 25/11/2021.
5.
52120/22
Cerkowniak v. Poland
24/10/2022
Kacper CERKOWNIAK
2001
Stargard
Grzegorz ŁYSIEŃ
Stargard
Wrocław Remand Centre
4
12/07/2022 - 23/08/2022
Upon return from a court hearing; after received visits; before transfer to another facility.
Complaint of 30/08/2022 dismissed by the Director of the Wrocław Remand Centre on 23/09/2022.