Oxford researchers identified 112 deaths in police stations and migrant centers in Greece over 26 years

More than 100 foreign nationals have died since 2000 in police stations and migrant centers in Greece, according to a study published Tuesday by researchers from the University of Oxford and cited by Reuters. The report identifies 112 deaths over 26 years, 44 of them suicides, amid inadequate access to medical services.

According to the data analyzed, 84 deaths occurred in police stations without medical staff, while another 27 were reported in migrant detention centers. The researchers say that 34 of the deaths documented by journalists, nongovernmental organizations and observers do not appear in official police statistics.

The dataset is part of the “Detention Landscapes” project, which monitors the deaths of foreigners held in detention. The research is based on statistics obtained through freedom-of-information requests, international reports, press articles and testimonies.

The authors point to gaps in official records and serious obstacles to accessing medical care, including in centers funded by the European Union. The findings come after a 2026 report by the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture, which warned that some deaths could have been prevented through proper supervision, psychiatric care and medical assistance.

The Greek government and the Ministry of the Interior did not immediately comment on the information. Greece has announced an action plan for 2025–2030 aimed at improving detention conditions, increasing staffing and reducing overcrowding.