33 Visits in 2017 functioning that they were generally unable to be part of the ordinary prison community. They risked spending long periods excluded from the company of others at the Z-Øst section. Information indicated that a low staffing level further limited the follow-up of the isolated inmates. Both the prison staff and the health service confirmed that they were unable to ensure that this group of inmates received treatment. During the inspection of the Z-Øst section, the NPM visited cells where the standard of hygiene warranted considerable criticism. The inmates who had stayed in the cells did not appear to have received sufficient follow-up and care from either the prison or the health department with respect to cleanliness and hygiene. The entire Z-Øst section was in poor physical condition, there was limited human contact, few meaningful activities and no measures in place to break up the isolation of the inmates in this section. No one appeared to have designated overall responsibility for those detained in the Z-Øst section over time. Given what is generally known about the harmful effects of isolation, the Ombudsman is very concerned about the level of care for isolated inmates at Ullersmo Prison. The health department did not have a set procedure for following up isolated inmates or those in a security cell. A number of the inmates did not feel safe in the prison. This concerned a number of sections, and was based on few officers being present in the communal areas in the sections, the exercise yards and in some workplace situations. The physical design of the new section 4 appeared to have a detrimental effect on both the staff and the inmates’ sense of security. The exercise yard in section 4, which was completed in summer 2017, was very limited with respect to size and exercise options. Around 60 per cent of the inmates were said to be employed in the prison. Inmates who had the offer of employment were generally satisfied with this. At several of the sections, those who did not have employment were locked out of their cells for a shorter period than that specified in international standards, for less than five hours on weekdays and less than four hours at weekends in some sections. It emerged that the programme activities had been reduced in recent years. Åna Prison 13–15 November 2017 Åna Prison is a prison with both high and lower security levels. The prison has only male inmates. During the visit, there were 153 high-security inmates in the prison. Main findings The admission of inmates took place in the cellar of Åna Prison, where all the new inmates and their possessions were registered and searched. The admission pamphlet was easy to follow and informative, and it is positive that it is available in a number of languages. However, some of the inmates stated that they had not been given the pamphlet on admission. It was stated that 75 per cent of the inmates were engaged in work or education. Several of them stated that they were satisfied with the employment they were offered, and most of the inmates who took advantage of educational activities were satisfied with these activities. Many inmates and employees requested more programme activities. The lack of such activities was said to be due to a shortage of resources. Inmates who did not engage in work or educational activities were locked in their cells for the period during which the other inmates were occupied. They spent less time each day outside their cells than the minimum eight hours recommended by the CPT for remand inmates. All of the inmates spent less than five hours outside their cells at weekends. It emerged during the interviews with inmates that they regarded the exercise options at the prison as poor. Few inmates took advantage of the obstacle course in the exercise yard, and many described it as being too demanding. A number of inmates requested more activity, increased exercise options and better quality exercise equipment. This was particularly the case for inmates in isolation. The inmates largely gave the impression that they felt safe. However, the inmates in the different sections expressed slightly different opinions in this respect, and more of the inmates in the big communal sections stated that they sometimes did not feel safe. A number of inmates highlighted the exercise yard as an area in which there were instances of physical violence or threats being made.