The NPM in 2017–18 In line with OPCAT, the NPM’s mission is to prevent ill-treatment through independent inspection and monitoring of places of detention in the UK. Each year the NPM sets strategic goals which are designed to help it to fulfil this mission. For 2017–18 these goals were to prevent the ill-treatment of detainees by: a) working together as members of the NPM to strengthen the protection of those in detention in the UK; b) building an NPM that is effective in delivering all the requirements of OPCAT; c) ensuring every NPM member delivers its own responsibilities under OPCAT; and d) increasing the visibility and awareness of the prohibition of ill-treatment in detention, the Convention Against Torture, OPCAT and the role of the NPM in prevention. The essential requirement of OPCAT – that all places of detention are independently monitored – is fulfilled by individual members of the NPM or by members working in partnership with one another. Detailed findings relating to the treatment and conditions of detainees are published in the inspection or annual reports of each NPM member. The NPM’s twice-yearly business meetings are its main forum for members to share findings, best practice, experiences and lessons from monitoring different types of detention and different jurisdictions. The NPM business plan is agreed and monitored at these meetings and other decisions which require the input of all members are made. This year, business meetings were held in October 2017 in Edinburgh and April 2018 in Belfast. NPM Chair John Wadham took up the role of the first independent Chair of the NPM in May 2016, following an open selection process and approval of his appointment by NPM members. His term was renewed by NPM members at the October 2017 business meeting. The role of the Chair is to advise and support the NPM in fulfilling its mandate, including: • chairing the NPM steering group meetings three to four times a year and NPM business meetings twice a year; • supporting NPM members in developing and implementing NPM work and in fulfilling their NPM responsibilities; and • speaking publicly on behalf of the NPM and representing the NPM at meetings with external stakeholders. The Chair also supports the NPM Secretariat in carrying out its role. NPM Secretariat Coordination is essential to the full and effective implementation of OPCAT in the UK, given the scale and complexity of the UK NPM’s multi-body structure. Each NPM member has a different mandate, powers and geographical remit and sets its own priorities for detention monitoring, as well as contributing to joint NPM priorities. Coordination of the NPM was designated to HMI Prisons, which is home to the NPM Secretariat. The Secretariat fulfils the role of NPM coordination and this is performed with