2.6.6. Individual cases 2.6.6.1. Inadequate surveillance of sobering-up cells In the course of a visit to the Telfs police station, the commission examined the detention book and found that – contrary to the statements of the police – inebriated persons were being held in inmate cells to “sober up”. In general, the commission pointed out that impairments due to substance abuse (alcohol, drugs, etc.) are mental disorders and must be considered illnesses. In the opinion of the commission, intoxicated persons should only be observed by medical specialists and not held in detention cells. Sobering-up cells should be rejected Moreover, the commission criticised that a highly inebriated person was not observed in accordance with the physician’s instructions during the detention. The public physician who had been called in ordered that the person be observed at intervals of 30 minutes. The Federal Ministry of the Interior conceded that intoxication is basically an illness. Development of a guideline which should take into consideration the health care to be provided to inebriated, substanceimpaired, mentally ill persons and persons who are a danger to themselves is being handled by the existing working group on suicide prevention (see chapter 2.6.2.2 regarding the working group on suicide prevention for further details). Working group on suicide prevention The NPM hopes for speedy implementation of the practice guideline for uniform handling of inebriated, substance-impaired, mentally ill persons and persons who are a danger to themselves in detention, which has been promised by the Federal Ministry of the Interior for years. With respect to the observed incident, the Federal Ministry of the Interior indicated that the timing of the checks was only missed “by minutes”. The NPM was not convinced by the description of the incident in the comments of the Federal Ministry of the Interior. Therefore, the NPM voiced its criticism. The NPM considered the sensitisation measures that were carried out with respect to the need for documentation to be an important step. Unfortunately, the Ministry failed to instruct the officers at the Telfs police station to call in a (public) physician when intoxicated persons are being detained and to explore the possibility of a transfer to a psychiatric clinic. 2.6.7. Positive observations After every visit to a facility, the commissions summarise their observations in a visit report. The commissions regularly note positive aspects and improvements, which are mentioned to the officer on duty during the concluding meetings and which are also included in the reports. In order to ensure a constructive collaboration, it is also important to the NPM to report positive impressions to the respective Ministry. 142