National Preventive Mechanism Ninth Annual Report 2017–18 pressures. Hence, our unequivocal view that the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT) requires, as a matter of practice, that the NPM has a clear legislative underpinning.’ ‘the protection of persons deprived of their liberty against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment can be strengthened by nonjudicial means of a preventive nature, based on regular visits to places of detention…’. Without government action on increased funding for the NPM Secretariat and much needed legislation, the NPM’s future contribution to preventing ill-treatment will not be as significant as I would like it to be. I look forward to another productive year working with our NPM members as we head into this next phase. Nonetheless, we continue to look forward and in the next year, the government will face review by a key United Nations committee – the Committee against Torture. The government has already submitted its own assessment of the extent to which it complies with the United Nations Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. It is now the turn of the NPM to comment on this assessment and put forward its own views. This is a very welcome opportunity and NPM members will be working hard to produce evidence to assist the Committee in making recommendations for concrete improvements to conditions in detention. Next year is also the 10th anniversary of the UK’s NPM, a time to both reflect on all that has been achieved and to look towards the next 10 years of the NPM. The anniversary marks the time for the NPM to move into its next phase – time for it to be better resourced and increasingly able to assist its members in upholding their OPCAT values and the spirit of the treaty, which states that: 6 John Wadham Chair UK National Preventive Mechanism