58 The thematic report “Use of restraint beds in Norwegian prisons”. The Correctional Service confirmed that provisional guidelines had been sent to prisons and KRUS regarding compliance with the judgement, pending changes to regulations. The provisional guidelines included important changes to body search practices. The Ombudsman will follow this issue in the coming year, both in respect of the development of new regulations as well as local practices. The thematic report on the use of restraint beds in Norwegian prisons was published digitally and followed up in various ways. Among other things, a joint meeting was held with the Correctional Service and the Directorate of Health, to present the findings of the report. One objective of the meeting was to improve knowledge among key health authorities on the health challenges of inmates subject to use of intrusive coercion measures such as restraint beds. The report was also sent to the relevant Standing Committees in the Storting. In November, the government sent a proposal for comments concerning a new national supervisory system for prisons. The background for the pro­ posal is the Parliamentary Ombudsman’s findings NORWEGIAN PARLIAMENTARY OMBUDSMAN National Preventive Mechanism ANNUAL REPORT 2020 Excerpt from NPM’s new website on deprivation of liberty and COVID-19. from prison visits, which have clearly documented a need to grant more authority to supervisory boards. The Ombudsman’s special report to the Storting on solitary confinement and lack of human contact in Norwegian prisons pointed out, among other things, that the present supervisory board has an unclear mandate, that there are unintended differences in how the various supervisory boards operate and how effective they are in safeguarding the rights and welfare of inmates. The proposal has a deadline for comments in February 2021. Dialogue with civil society and authorities during the pandemic As the NPM decided to suspend all visits from 11 March, we implemented systematic efforts to explore new ways of working within our mandate. Many of those deprived of their liberty are in high-risk groups and are more vulnerable to infection. The prohibition against inhuman and degrading treatment is absolute and applies at all times, even during acute crisis situations. It was essential to uphold and further develop dialogue with key national bodies to safeguard our mandate during this period.