inmates master useful skills and knowledge. In 2018, modules of the “Self-support programme 2” were designed by an inmate serving a sentence in Belene Prison. The programme enables inmates to become trainers and support other inmates (repeat offenders and non-repeat offenders) based on the “peer-to-peer training” principle. Work with all new inmates is conducted in a separate hall for group work with psychology inspector and for the purposes of the allocation commission psychological evaluations are provided in addition to initial reports. During their acceptance in a reception department, the newcomers are differentiated – the convicts are separated from detainees. The new convicts stay in the reception department about 17 days on average and during that period work is done for their adaptation to prison conditions. A large number of the inmates participate in sports activities involving different fitness exercises. Many clubs by interest are created. The possibilities for sports activities in Belene Prison for inmates include football, volleyball, table tennis, chess, bridge, badminton. In the outdoor site for every prison group there are fitness exercise items manufactured in the prison and used by inmates to train on a daily basis. Funds have been disbursed for the purchase of sports equipment for several groups. Purchased are also sports items to be used in the setting up of a fitness hall for inmates placed in the enhanced security zone. The condition of the computer room and the cinema hall has seriously deteriorated and the existing computer hardware is obsolete and it is impossible to upgrade it so that it can be used by inmates. For this reason these premises are not used. The prison library has a wide range of books but the available legal literature is obsolete. This is why the NPM recommends to the director-general of DGEP to allocate additional funds for renovation of the above premises and purchase of the required computer hardware. From the presented orders for imposition of disciplinary punishments since the beginning of 2019 it was found that all planned checks of bedrooms were conducted during the day (from 09:00 a.m. to 17:30 p.m.). No checks of bedrooms were made at night. Established violations involve possession of unauthorised items for use (most often mobile phones), infliction of physical and/or psychological violence, preparing mixtures for preparation of brandy, and attempts at bringing in narcotic substances. No disciplinary punishments for “work suspension” were imposed. Most of the imposed punishments are “written warning” and “isolation in a penalty cell” (from 10 to 14 days). In 2018, the inspectorate of the Ministry of Justice conducted an inspection under Article 46 of the Administration Act. Instructions were given to increase the number of wardens in order to improve the security of Belene Prison. As evident from the maintained posts, the existing staff is fully engaged and it is practically impossible to procure the opening of a second post (posts) in the main buildings. The wardens oversee simultaneously the outdoor space and ensure order and discipline in the groups. From October 2018, by an order of the director-general of DGEP, visitations of highrisk and life imprisoned inmates take place in building No. 6 of Belene Prison. In this regard, the security guards are far from sufficient as visitations take place in two sites. Therefore for the execution of this order two wardens need be appointed for each of the four wards and one driver of a specialised escort motor vehicle. In this regard, the NPM recommended additional security guards and wardens to be planned for Belene Prison. Substantial extra work is done by ward heads due to the fact that there are only 5 positions. It is necessary to appoint one head of ward which will help reduce extra work to zero and it will make it possible to use the statutory annual leaves in the same year. Post and escort 22