46 Aleris Alta 26–29 September 2017 At the time of the visit, Alta had two shared housing units for child welfare in Alta: Mathisdalen and Russeluft. Both of the units are long-term units where young people can spend a prolonged period of time and they were approved for placement of young people between the ages of 13–18 (20) without the consent of the person in question. Main findings The institution did not have a procedure for documenting whether the young people arrived there with police, whether coercive measures had been used during the journey or whether coercive measures were in use on their arrival. Information indicated that this had occurred. Using such coercive measures when transporting children and young people is perceived as very invasive. It has a great potential for harm, is humiliating and stigmatising and entails a risk of inhuman and degrading treatment. Aleris Alta appeared to have good procedures and practices in place for making preparations for the arrival of new young people and looking after them when they arrived at the units. It emerged, for example, that force was rarely used in connection with admission. The employees devoted a lot of resources to preparations for the admission of new young people and emphasised conversation and involvement from the start of their stay. Aleris Alta had procedures for when and how the police should be notified if a young person runs away, but a separate procedure was not in place for other forms of cooperation with the police. Employees at Aleris Alta expressed their wish for more regular dialogue or an arena for meetings with the police to discuss roles, how the institution and police work and their needs. Aleris Alta appeared to be restrictive in its use of force such as restrictions on freedom of movement and the use of electronic means of communication. The employees stated that they did not regard restricting young people’s freedom of movement NORWEGIAN PARLIAMENTARY OMBUDSMAN National Preventive Mechanism ANNUAL REPORT 2017 outside the unit to be expedient, and that they tried instead to employ other means of following them up rather than accompanying them outside the house. The large majority of the administrative decisions to use force at Alta Aleris concerned decisions to collect urine samples, which were carried out with the young people’s consent. The employees and management emphasised that collecting urine samples, even with consent, is very invasive. An administrative decision was therefore made in every case to ensure the young people’s due process protection and involvement, and to establish a dialogue about their treatment. Aleris Alta had written procedures for the prevention and handling of abuse. During the visit, all of the staff, however, did not appear to be as familiar with these procedures, and there was uncertainty about how, as employees, they were to proceed if there was a suspicion of abuse. The employees and management employed a range of different tools and methods to ensure the young people's involvement. Involving them in decisions and plans was highlighted as being the most important means of motivating the young people to complete their treatment and to prevent the use of force. Overall, the visit showed that Aleris Alta takes the young people’s opinions seriously and actively consults them and converses with them, which influences their day-to-day life and future. Immigration detention The police immigration detention centre at Trandum, the security section 28–29 March 2017 The security section of the detention centre comprised three security cells and eight reinforced cells. During the visit, the Ombudsman examined the detention centre’s practice concerning the use of the security section, and the use of coercive measures, such as body-cuffs.