70 | Annual Report 2019 21 March 27 March In the light of a specific case the Ombudsman recently recommended the Department of Prisons and Probation to consider whether further initiatives were needed to ensure that the rules were observed when pepper spray was used on inmates in Danish state and local prisons. In this connection the Ombudsman pointed out that the use of pepper spray had almost doubled over the past few years. As a result of an increasing number of complaints in cases about access to public records, the Parliamentary Ombudsman is now setting up a division dedicated to processing these cases. The new division will be operational from 1 May. The Department of Prisons and Probation has now replied that it will be stressed that the rules on use of pepper spray – including in regard to when pepper spray may be used and what documentation is required – must be observed. During a forced deportation of foreign nationals to Afghanistan, several Danish police officers saw an Afghan police chief hit two of the Afghan deportees in the face with the flat of his hand on the plane at the airport in Kabul. Afterwards, the Danish National Police assessed that the Danish police officers had the responsibility for protecting the Afghan nationals, but that due to, among other things, safety considerations, they did the right thing by not intervening. Department of Prisons and Probation to stress that rules on use of pepper spray must be observed 25 March Ombudsman to focus on younger children in care outside their home in 2019 In 2019 staff of the Ombudsman’s Children’s Division are going to visit a number of residential institutions and accommodation facilities for children in care where some or all residents are aged six to 12 years – as the theme for this year’s monitoring visits by the Children’s Division is younger children placed in social care outside their home. Ombudsman setting up new division dedicated to cases about access to public records 28 March Obligations of Danish police officers during deportations clarified On investigating the matter, the Ombudsman concludes that he has no grounds for repudiating the assessment of the National Police. 3 April 26 March Digital self-service solution of Haderslev Municipality did not comply with certain requirements of administrative law The rights of the small number of 15- to 17-year-olds who are placed in state or local prisons have been strengthened in several respects. This has happened after, among other things, monitoring visits by the Ombudsman, in which connection the Ombudsman raised a number of questions with the authorities. Citizens of Haderslev Municipality with functional impairment who want to apply for technical aids, consumer durables or layout or interior design work under the Social Services Act will get the impression that it is compulsory to use the Municipality’s digital self-service solution. But that is not always the case, the Ombudsman emphasises in a recent report. Minor inmates’ rights strengthened