facilities of the police units of the Federation and the Länder, as well as to the detention facilities of the Federal Armed Forces and of the customs authorities, since the majority of inspection visits took place in such facilities. As a rule, the Commission of the Länder announces a visit to a facility to the competent supervisory authority roughly 30 minutes prior to the beginning of the visit in order to accelerate entrance to the facility that is to be visited. The Federal Agency announces inspection visits well in advance in order to ensure that the relevant contacts are on site. Topics such as the accommodation of the detainees, the level of employment, possibilities for contact both within and outside the facility, therapeutic activities, the staffing situation, the handling of relaxations of the detention regime, as well as pre-release measures, are first of all discussed in an initial exchange that is carried out when prisons are inspected. The following areas are subsequently focussed on: the detention area and specially-secured cell containing no dangerous objects, the accommodation area, the sanitary area, the admissions area, the security area, the visiting area, the sickbay, the treatment and leisure areas, as well as workshops. Special departments, such as the department for persons held in preventive detention, social therapy or the mother-and-child department, are included in the inspection, depending on the focus. The members of the Commission carry on discussions with inmates of various wings whom they select, the prisoners’ co-responsibility body, the staff council and other staff, including staff members of the specialist services. Furthermore, the Commission of the Länder inspects documents and inmates’ personnel files (for details cf. B. III). Moreover, it requests written information to be compiled on the respective facility and the procedure which is followed in the deprivation of liberty. These discussions particularly relate to capacity and occupancy, special incidents (e.g. suicides, violent acts), special security measures (e.g. fixation, solitary confinement), disciplinary measures (e.g. detention), complaints against staff members, concerns of the prisoners’ co-responsibility body, relaxations of the detention regime and leave, employment offered and level, vocational skill-building possibilities and leisure opportunities. The main results of the visit are to be discussed in a final talk with the head of the facility. Subsequent to several visits, the National Agency had received additional important information from inmates relating to the facility visited in each case. It addressed a further query to the heads of the facilities in question in such cases in order to clarify the facts. The inspection of detention facilities of the Federal and Land Police, the Federal Armed Forces and of the customs authorities proceeds roughly as follows: In an introductory talk with the head of the unit, the National Agency first of all gathers general information on the unit, its responsibility and particular problems. Furthermore, it requests the head of the unit to compile documents, particularly on the staff, the detention cells, accommodation in detention, complaints against officers in connection with detention, any special incidents such as fixation, information sheets for individuals in custody regarding their rights, as well as any additional specific training activities for officers in the detention area. The members of the National Agency then inspect the entire detention area and the documents available, such as detention records. If the National Agency finds that individuals are being held in custody, it will take the opportunity to have a private talk with them. Equally, interviews will be carried out where necessary with officers on duty, with the staff representative as well as with social workers, for example. Furthermore, files of the individuals in custody are inspected (cf. B.III). In each case a final talk takes place with the head of the unit in which the main outcome is notified in advance. A detailed description of the focus of the inspection visits can be found at B.V. 16