NEWS PUBLISHED ON THE OMBUDSMAN’S WEBSITE IN 2017 11 May The Ombudsman’s overall conclusion is that the Udbetaling Danmark2 too slow to re­ assess decisions on housing benefit rules are observed with very few exceptions and Far too many citizens who appealed decisions by out professionally. There is nothing to indicate that Udbetaling Danmark on housing benefit in 2016 body searches and urine sampling are performed had to wait for more than four weeks for the for harassment purposes. that the inmates and residents themselves find that body searches and urine sampling are carried decision to be reassessed by Udbetaling Danmark and their appeal to be subsequently forwarded 14 June to the National Social Appeals Board. This has Where to meet the Ombudsman at the People’s Political Festival emerged from a case opened by the Parliamenta­ ry Ombudsman and has resulted in criticism from the Ombudsman. This year again, the Parliamentary Ombudsman will be present at the People’s Political Festival on The four-week deadline is stipulated by an execu­ the island of Bornholm, which takes place from 15 tive order issued by the Minister for Social Affairs to 18 June. and the Interior. 16 June 16 May Obligatory washing of young residents’ clothes illegal Help for head teachers to secure pupils’ rights For several years, the Ombudsman has had focus An institution mainly for young people remanded on pupils’ rights when primary and lower second­ in custody has consistently washed all the young ary schools make intrusive decisions in relation to people’s clothes on their arrival, even if the young pupils. Now the Ministry of Education is going to people have not wanted it. This has been done for initiate a further guidance effort to ensure that hygienic purposes, but also to destroy any eupho­ head teachers use the rules of administrative law riants which may have been hidden in the clothes. correctly. However, the legislation does not permit such a measure, the Ombudsman concludes. 19 June 17 May Steps are now being taken to resolve doubts about the legal basis for NemID3 by means of legislation Mentally ill children and young people regularly strapped to beds After being contacted by a municipal citizen It happens regularly that a child or a young person advisor, the Ombudsman raised a number of in a psychiatric ward is involuntarily strapped to questions with the Agency for Digitisation and a bed. This is revealed by a report on children and the Ministry of Finance about the legal basis for young people in inpatient psychiatric care just NemID. published by the Parliamentary Ombudsman. 22 June 18 May Body searches and urine sampling carried out according to rules Greater clarity about researchers’ freedom of expression Researchers at Danish universities are permitted At 32 monitoring visits carried out in 2016, the to express their views in a private capacity in the Ombudsman focused on body-searching and urine public debate – also on matters in fields where sampling. they have provided research to public authorities. 2) An authority responsible for a number of public benefits 3) The digital signature that is used as a single login for public websites, online banking and many other websites and services in Denmark 125