National Preventive Mechanism Ninth Annual Report 2017–18 complaints of ill-treatment are recorded by places of detention, how ill-treatment is defined and perceived in different detention contexts and to what extent NPM members should take a harmonised approach to possible ill-treatment. Following this, NPM members agreed to undertake a thematic project on ill-treatment in detention in 2018–19, with the aim of providing clear guidance on how NPM members should respond to such incidents. NPM members’ thematic work on detention Throughout the year, as well as regular inspection and monitoring of individual establishments and detention settings, many NPM members examined specific, cross-cutting topics in detail or undertook thematic inspections to highlight concerns and drive change. • In December 2017, CQC published a good practice resource on services that had successfully reduced their use of restrictive practices, including the use of restraint, seclusion and rapid tranquilisation.20 This was in response to CQC’s concern that, in England, inconsistent attention was paid to the MHA Code of Practice recommendation that called on mental health services to reduce restrictive interventions when responding to challenging behaviour. Throughout 2017–18, CQC researched incidents of sexual assault or sexual harassment on inpatient wards, leading to publication of a report with recommendations to improve future practice.21 • In November 2017, the CCE published Children’s Voices: The Wellbeing of Children in Detention in England, a review of detained children’s subjective views and experiences.22 In March 2018, the CCE published a report, in collaboration with Dame Louise Casey, entitled Voices from the Inside, which focused on the life experiences of girls in custody.23 • In March 2018, HIW published Mental Health Hospitals, Learning Disability and Mental Health Act Inspections.24 The annual report noted several positive findings, including in relation to patient satisfaction and positive rapport between patients and staff, but it also highlighted concerns such as the lack of robust processes for managing risk, too few inpatient beds and not enough staff with the right skills and knowledge. • HMI Prisons published a number of thematic reports during the year including Through the Gate Resettlement Services 20 Mental Health Act – A focus on restrictive intervention reduction programmes in inpatient mental health services, available at https://www.cqc.org.uk/publications/themed-work/mental-health-act-restrictive-intervention-reduction-programmes, accessed 21 November 2018. 21 Sexual safety on mental health wards, available at https://www.cqc.org.uk/publications/major-report/sexual-safetymental-health-wards, accessed 21 November 2018. 22 Children’s Voices: A review of evidence on the subjective wellbeing of children in detention in England, available at https:// www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/CCO-review-of-evidence-on-the-subjective-wellbeingof-children-in-detention-in-England-2.pdf, accessed 21 November 2018. 23 Voices from the inside: The experiences of girls in Secure Training Centres, available at https://www. childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/CCO-Voices-from-the-Inside-MARCH-2018-1.pdf, accessed 21 November 2018. 24 Mental Health Hospitals, Learning Disability and Mental Health Act Inspections, available at http://hiw.org.uk/docs/hiw/ publications/180329mhaen.pdf?lang=en, accessed 21 November 2018. 22