ism-proof smoke detectors would be routinely installed in new buildings in future and fitted successively in old buildings when they were renovated. Individual gaps in the documentation were discovered when looking through the detention records. The detention record should document as closely as possible the times when the detention area is checked, as well as the names of all the officers carrying out the checks. The Commission of the Länder furthermore recommends that the detention record be regularly submitted to the head of the unit or to a person commissioned by him/her for information and initialling. These measures serve not only to comprehensively document detention, but also to protect the officers. The police authorities had been once more pointed to the requirement of proper documentation of the activities in detention areas in the Police Custody Code of the Land Rhineland-Palatinate The detention cells of Mainz 2 police station do not have any daylight. Even with a brief stay in detention, access to natural light is considered to be necessary as a matter of principle. At least with new buildings, daylight should be taken into consideration when planning the construction. As soon as a longer stay is foreseeable, the individual should be taken to another appropriately-equipped detention facility. In light of the fact that, as a rule, persons are said to only spend a very short period in police custody, daylight would be welcome, but is not vital. Where construction permitted, and it could be economically justified, they would attempt to design detention cells with daylight in new buildings. There is no medical examination stretcher available in Mainz 2 police station. The Commission of the Länder recommends buying such a stretcher for medical examinations and treatment. Examination stretchers are said to be already available in the vast majority of units, but were frequently not located close to the place of detention. Every effort is being made to fully equip the units. No mattresses are available in Mainz 1 police station, and not in all rooms in Mainz 2 police station. The Commission of the Länder recommends to provide a sufficient number of washable, highly inflammable mattresses and blankets for all detention rooms. The availability of mattresses and blankets is said to guarantee a certain degree of comfort. Experience however also shows that these objects might constitute a safety hazard (e.g. attempts at strangulation or ignition, blocking the toilet drain). Against this background, in each individual case and prior to providing the items, a risk assessment was carried out in line with the conduct of the person who has been taken into detention. The risk scenarios were taken into account along with any indications through intensified checking and us- 66 The Detention Code was currently being revised. In future, it would also contain an explicit obligation for the head of the unit to also maintain regular controls.