Implementation of the Duties and Powers of the National Preventive Mechanism in 2012 It was explained by the institution that its residents and their relatives are encouraged to furnish their rooms with personal items. Since the ward had been recently refurbished, too little time had elapsed for the residents, together with their relatives and employees, to manage to decorate their rooms in accordance with their wishes. In addition, there are many residents without any relatives or these show no interest in décor and they have practically had no personal possessions before they were admitted to the institution. That is why they receive some things as gifts from the employees or the institution. Residents like to decorate their rooms with art items created by themselves. In order to create a homely atmosphere in the ward, the living space of the secure ward (rooms, living room) had been repainted in warm earth colours and an electric fire space was installed there by the institution. A smoking room is provided in the secure ward of Grmovje SCI. At the time of the visit of the NPM, the smoking room was not ventilated. Two windows, used for natural ventilation, were closed. It was thus proposed by the NPM that the smoking room be regularly ventilated. It was explained by the institution that, as prescribed, an electric ventilator is installed in the smoking room which can ventilate the room within ten minutes. It was assumed by the institution that at the time of the NPM’s visit, the smoking room had just been used and not yet ventilated. Call bells In Grmovje SCI, it was established by the NPM that there are no call bells located next to beds but only in front of the entrance into rooms. Neither are there any call bells in the sanitary annexes of rooms. It is believed by the institution that residents did not need call bells next to their beds since employees are constantly present on the ward, whilst at night time, they are caught on camera when they enter the corridor. Call bells outside rooms are supposedly dedicated for employees to make calls among themselves, but they may also be used by residents. A warning light is lit in the main medical consulting room of the institution when a call bell rings, and the staff have pagers which spot the call. In spite of explanations regarding the reasons why call bells next to beds were supposedly not necessary, it is believed by the NPM, that it would be appropriate if mobile residents of the ward would have call bells set next to their beds, or at least in their rooms, while it would be mandatory to install them next to beds in case of immobile residents. Only in this manner would the call bells be used for their proper purpose. It is believed that the ward is so big that employees cannot hear what is going on in all rooms, in addition, the use of call bells seems much more appropriate and user-friendly for residents as compared to shouting which might also be misheard by an employee, or possibly deliberately ignored. It was subsequently communicated by the institution that the main reason for not installing the call bell system lay in the fact that there is always one employee present on the secure ward, and that mishearing a call could not happen, and that the experience of the institution is such that there are no such calls. Call systems installed next to beds seem unnecessary since there are no immobile residents in the ward. The Institution wishes to be as careful as possible and develop individual relationships. In spite of that, the institution will take into account the NPM’s proposal regarding the installation of call bells and will have the suitable call systems installed in the residents’ rooms at the beginning of 2013. Staff in the secure ward In Dutovlje SCI, the constant presence of at least one employee in the ward during the night time was commended. Thus, at night time, there are porters deployed to the secure ward who, in case assistance is needed, call a medical assistant – a caregiver or a nurse who are in a duty room in another ward or are making rounds in the institution. National Preventive Mechanism in the Republic of Slovenia under the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment 73