In 2012–13, all members of the UK NPM have continued to make regular visits to places of detention, monitor the treatment of, and conditions for, detainees and make recommendations to the relevant authorities. In this NPM-wide annual report, we note the joint activities of the members, the development of NPM governance and coordination, and specific areas developed with a view to consolidating the implementation of OPCAT in the United Kingdom. Although we do highlight some member-specific developments of relevance to the fulfilment of the NPM role, the specific activities of NPM members, their findings and recommendations for action can be found in their individual annual reports. NPM structure and coordination In 2012–13, the UK NPM took steps to improve and consolidate its governance structure, as a means to strengthen the coordination of the joint and individual activities of the 18 members. Business meetings Biannual business meetings, attended by all members, continued as the main forum for sharing key findings, best practice, experiences and lessons from monitoring different types of detention and in different jurisdictions. Specific topics discussed at meetings in 2012–13 were: • ‘de facto’ detention • restraint and use of force • deaths in custody and the roles of monitors and inspectors • an event planned to mark five years since the UK NPM was designated • the making of recommendations and their follow-up • solitary confinement, segregation and isolation. Steering group Since the establishment of the NPM steering group in January 2012 – as a means to facilitate coordination and decision-making between biannual business meetings (see steering group terms of reference in Appendix 3) – its role has been developed and consolidated over the year. The steering group is made up of five members, including HMIP as coordinator of the NPM, and one representative of each of the four jurisdictions within the UK. The members of the steering group in 2012–13 were: • Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) • Criminal Justice Inspectorate Northern Ireland (CJINI) • Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland (MWCS) • Health Inspectorate Wales (HIW) • Independent Custody Visiting Association (ICVA) Three meetings of the steering group were held in 2012–13, and served to develop an NPM business plan, as well as discuss strategic priorities and NPM responses to external requests. The steering group also took forward work reviewing how NPM members monitor recommendations. Subgroup on children and young people An important development during the year was the establishment of an NPM thematic subgroup focusing specifically on children and young people, proposed by the Office of the Children’s Commissioner for England (OCC). NPM members with an interest in the rights of children and young people in detention began the process of establishing terms of reference and an agenda for future actions. The work of the subgroup is discussed in more detail later in the section (see Priority areas, p.21). 15