MONITORING PLACES OF DETENTION : A PRACTICAL GUIDE 76 Chapter IV of this guide provides information on these different aspects of detention and guidance for visiting mechanisms on what to look for during the visit. A quick overview over relevant issues is given in the checklist in Annex 1. 4. THE VISIT ITSELF 4.1 Initial talk with the head of the place of detention The first visit to a place of detention should begin with a talk between the visiting team and the person in charge, or the deputy. This talk, which is the first step in establishing a dialogue with the authorities, serves to: ■ introduce the visiting mechanism and the members of the visiting team; ■ explain the meaning and objectives of the visits; ■ explain the working methods used, in particular the absolute need to talk in private with the persons deprived of their liberty and, if possible, the members of staff looking after them; ■ explain the use that will be made of the information collected; ■ reassure the person in charge of the place as to the behaviour of the members of the team during the visit (respect for rules and security regulations); ■ explain how the visit is to unfold and how long it will last; ■ request information about the place of detention, including whether there are any groups of prisoners with special needs (for example, deaf prisoners, prisoners with other disabilities) and whether there