VISITS BY THE JOINT COMMISSION The police informs those who do not speak or understand German about their rights through a professional interpreter. The method applied in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania goes far beyond the required minimum, namely providing information on a sheet. There are no indications of any problems or complaints in connection with this modus operandi. The detention rooms in Reutershagen Police Station are not fitted with fire alarms. The Joint Commission recommends checking all the police stations in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania to see whether they have fire alarms in their detention rooms and to retrofit them in order to guarantee the safety of detainees in the event of fire. Response: All the custody facilities run by the Land police have been instructed to fit fire alarms wherever these are not yet available. 2.4.3 – Further suggestions by the Joint Commission for improving the conditions of detention Four out of the 10 detention rooms have a toilet which is in full view through a peephole. These rooms do not guarantee detainees’ privacy. However, the custody suite has a separate washroom where there is a toilet which is not visible and which detainees may ask to use. The Joint Commission feels this is a practicable solution as long as people are made aware that a toilet is available which is not in full view from the outside. The police officers working in the custody suite were not wearing name or number badges. The Joint Commission suggests examining whether such identification could be introduced. 77