Introduction extent. The 1,800 places of detention existing in Poland would require the National Preventive Mechanism Department to employ 38 people, while in 2011 its staff consisted of 7 persons. Only in 2012 thanks to the Parliament’s decision, the Department will take on four additional employees. The first part of the report presents organisational matters concerning the operation of the National Preventive Mechanism as well as the actions taken in the framework of cooperation at national and international level. The second part describes the methodology applied by representatives of the Mechanism, it summarises the 2011 recommendations addressed to the visited places and to competent ministers, and it analyses the status quo in individual places of detention, based on results of the visits. I personally recommend the chapter entitled “Good Practices” as it provides examples of model solutions that may serve as inspiration for managers of places of detention, giving them ideas which, when put into practice, would foster the development of such places. As before, the report is prepared in two languages as it is intended for international bodies and national preventive mechanisms in other countries. The report is also available at the website of the Human Rights Defender, bookmark “National Preventive Mechanism.” Professor Irena Lipowicz Human Rights Defender 9