49 Visits in 2016 Child welfare institutions Akershus youth and family centre, department Sole 7–8 and 15 November 2016 Akershus youth and family centre is a state-run child welfare institution, where Sole is one of three emergency departments. It receives adolescents aged between 12 and 18, and is approved to accommodate four adolescents under the Norwegian Child Welfare Act Sections 4-24 first paragraph, 4-25 second paragraph and 4-26. Main findings Sole is a closed department – i.e. the doors are locked and leaving the department is only permitted by agreement. At the time of the NPM's visit, physical security appeared to be a greater focus at the department than the adolescents’ sense of security. The department had received some negative feedback on its physical appearance, and, following the visit, it has initiated efforts to make improvements in this area. A body search, especially if it involves the full removal of clothing, is an invasive measure, and can, according to the European Court of Human Rights and the CPT, result in in human rights violations. Findings showed that Sole did not have a dedicated procedure for how staff should proceed in instances where the removal of clothing is considered necessary during a body search. Nor do national guidelines provide any concrete instructions on how a body search is to be carried out in practice to ensure it is as considerate as possible. Other findings were made that showed that Sole must ensure that administrative decisions are made and records kept of body searches and searches of the belongings of adolescents. The use of force constitutes a risk of degrading and inhuman treatment. National and international research shows that children in institutions feel that there is too much use of force. Sole had worked systematically over time to prevent the use of force in acute danger situations, including through a training programme on trauma-sensitive child welfare and the reorganisation of work methods. The department appears to have some good practices in place for safeguarding the detainees’ rights on admission and during their stay there. However, findings showed that the institution could have clearer procedures and guidelines in place to reduce the risk of the adolescents being subjected to degrading treatment. The role of the police in relation to admission, among other things, was unclear from the information the NPM received. For example, whether the police could come into the department during admission or not, whether they could assist in searches in the department and when handcuffs were removed. Photo: Department Sole Akershus youth and family centre, department Sole