If monitors find it appropriate to use PPE during indi- outside the place of deprivation of liberty. These could vidual interviews, it is recommended also to provide therefore be prioritized by the visiting team as a key area similar PPE (e.g., a clean and disinfected mask) to the for inspection. Particular precautions and PPE protocols interviewees to wear during the interview. NPM mem- may need to be observed when visiting areas of quar- bers must be aware that the use of facemasks and other antine and/or isolation. PPE during interviews is likely to create an important Interviews in places of deprivation of liberty psychosocial barrier that may be detrimental to the gathering of information and to fostering trust with the interviewee.54 It is important that monitors take the time If the monitoring team decides to conduct interviews, to explain the reason for such measures, in an effort to it is essential that the appropriate distance advised by dispel negative perceptions. Some persons deprived of health authorities be kept during the entire interview liberty and members of staff may not understand the between each of the monitors, and with the person need for such precautionary measures and may take deprived of liberty or member of staff being interviewed. offence to practices such as physical distancing and Especially during the pandemic, individual interviews the refusal to take part in traditional greetings (such as should be favoured over group interviews. shaking hands). In Georgia, the ombuds institution conducted private Throughout the visit, the monitoring team should make interviews in facilities in which the monitor could be an effort to avoid, as much as possible, touching any separated from the detainee by a glass or acrylic barrier. surfaces as well as their face and hair, and respect strict Prior to the COVID-19 crisis, the authorities had been hand hygiene rules. using these facilities for family visits (a practice that the NPM had condemned, for its placement of unnecessary Areas and premises to visit inside places of dep- barriers between detainees and their loved ones). It is rivation of liberty important to ensure that the room and the set-up both guarantee privacy and confidentiality of the exchange Due to the high level of risk of spreading the virus in of information and that the conversation is held out of closed and confined spaces, especially in overcrowded hearing of officials or staff of the place of deprivation areas, monitoring bodies could decide, exceptionally, of liberty. not to enter the wards, cells or dormitories. In these cases, visits would be restricted to premises such as the Another strategy to be considered could be to inter- administration/office area, clinics and healthcare offices, view detainees in open-air areas, such as courtyards, and courtyards. Nevertheless, to enable some monitor- which would allow for a safe distance to be maintained ing in the ward, cells and dormitories, the monitoring between the monitor and interviewee and reduce the team could make use of video-recording technologies. potential for transmission. Monitors can ask to access video footage and obtain access to the closed-circuit television control centre, if If the NPM decides to carry out individual interviews, it available. needs to decide which criteria or strategies to apply for 55 selecting interviewees. Different selection approachPeople placed in quarantine and isolation areas within es may be adopted, such as ad hoc or spontaneous detention facilities are in a particularly vulnerable situa- selection, pre-identification of individuals or groups of tion as they already experience limited contact with the particular concern or random sampling. It may be of outside world, but also contact with other inmates and particular relevance to interview individuals who have staff gets further curtailed. Thus, they are disproportion- spent time in isolation or quarantine because of their ately affected by restricted access to their surroundings confirmed or suspected COVID-19 status, as they will be 54 APT, TB paper. 55 APT/PRI, ‘Video recording in police custody’. 18