In April 2014, the competent commission made an announced first visit to the Vordernberg detention centre. In the course of this visit, there was also a detailed round table discussion with the managerial staff of the Vordernberg detention centre. The commission saw the work climate and the respectful treatment of detainees as very positive. The commission sensed that the staff was highly motivated to help shape this innovative project and work together to provide good service. The commission was also impressed by the spacious architectural design and the fixtures and fittings in the building. In many ways, the commission recognised the efforts of the Federal Ministry of the Interior to design and organise detention pending forced return in accordance with modern standards that protect human rights (e.g. placement into large, well-designed residential units, a broad spectrum of recreational opportunities, psycho-social care, separation of the diagnostic and curative activities of physicians and the use of qualified healthcare personnel, etc.). The staff of the Vordernberg detention centre stressed, on one hand, the constructive collaboration between the police and the private security company G4S, and, on the other hand, the clear division of tasks and authority between them. However, the commission will only be able to judge the practical implementation of the division of work between the police and G4S in the course of additional visits. Collaboration between the police and G4S At the concluding meeting, the commission formulated several proposals for improvement. Documentation of all the activities engaged in and the measures taken by the G4S personnel would increase transparency and accountability. The commission also considers it important that retrievable information be quickly translated and made available in the relevant (27) languages. The commission criticised the fact that prisoners must surrender their mobile phones. Finally, the commission expressed its concern that prisoners should be promptly released or given into the care of Caritas after termination of detention pending forced return. Proposals for improvement During its second visit in August 2014, the commission rated the living conditions at the Vordernberg detention centre as generally good and found no serious irregularities. During the concluding meeting, the commission still made several recommendations. The manager of the Vordernberg detention centre and the manager of G4S made some promises in this regard, and the commission hopes to see their implementation in the course of follow-up visits. During its visit in December 2014, the commission gave intensive scrutiny to the access of prisoners to information. It was particularly critical of the inadequate deployment by the staff of professional interpreters, the poor information provided to prisoners regarding their ability to contact legal advisors, the prohibition on the use of the Internet and mobile phones by prisoners and the segregation of hunger-striking prisoners in their own group. The commission also 128 Access to information