cells. This has included making greater use of, and providing more suitable facilities within, hospital emergency departments. This work has had a major impact on practice throughout the country. The number of nonoffenders detained in Police cells for a mental health assessment has fallen from 4,995 in 2014 to 2,756 in 2016, and this is forecast to drop further to 2,324 in 2017. That represents a 53.5% reduction in three years. Over the last 12 months there has been one welcome development which should result in further improvements to practice. The Ministry of Health has funded the development and implementation of a Mental Health Response Triage Line to take non-critical mental health calls from Police and Ambulance communication centres that connects the caller to registered nurses with specialist health knowledge who can provide assistance. This service should reduce the need for attendance at incidents involving mentally impaired persons where no emergency response is required. Court cells The Authority has continued to monitor progress in addressing the substandard physical conditions of Court cells throughout the country. These pose a significant risk to prisoner safety, and often also pose hazardous working conditions for staff. Over the course of the year the Ministry of Justice has been working through the implementation of a remediation programme that has been prioritised according to areas of greatest need. This is designed to modernise cell conditions to the extent that resources allow and to remove obvious areas of risk such as ligature points that provide opportunities for self-harm. Progress in implementing the remediation programme has been slow. The Authority recognises that the remediation programme requires the investment of substantial resources and will therefore take some time to complete. However, it has had discussions with the Ministry of Justice to seek more rapid progress and is pleased to report that the remediation programme is being expedited. 28 Youth in police cells In the year to April 2017, 168 children and youths were remanded in police custody. Of those, 127 spent more than 24 hours in police cells.34 In some cases, these remands were for prolonged periods. In June 2017 it was reported that a 16-year-old boy spent his third night in an Auckland police cell.35 In the same month a 14-year-old spent four days in police cells in Christchurch. The Judge was so concerned she visited the cell and informed authorities that they needed to find appropriate accommodation.36 These young people (aged 17 and under) are vulnerable. Police cells are not an appropriate environment for them. Young people in these circumstances have reported being treated as an adult rather than a young person, being treated unfairly, having force used on them, feeling discriminated against, and not having their medical and/or mental health needs met.37 Police cells are unlikely to provide adequate hygiene facilities, appropriate support, adequate food, fresh air, and natural light. Because these young people are being held in a police cell and are legally unable to be held with adults, they are effectively in solitary confinement. This can lead to physical, mental, and emotional harm.38 The experiences of young people in Police detention are inconsistent with the right to be protected from cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment. As a general rule, if a young person needs to be detained they should be held in accommodation appropriate for young people. The Authority has had discussions with other agencies about this issue and will continue to monitor whether appropriate steps are being taken to minimise the number of young people in Police cells. Engagement New Zealand Police The Authority engaged with Police during this reporting year through site visits and its consideration of complaints by members of the public, and by referrals from the Police where there has been a death or serious injury occurring in Police custody. Human Rights Commission