| 41 What: The core function of an ombudsman is to investigate complaints from citizens. However, opening investigations on his own initiative is also a high priority for the Ombudsman. Sometimes the Ombudsman will open an investigation on his own initiative after following a case in the media. The Ombudsman monitors both local and national media. Why: The objective of also giving high priority to own-initiative investigations is to identify recurring errors made by authorities and in this way be able to help a large number of citizens at the same time. Investigations of this type can thus have a great impact on the case processing by authorities. External parties – such as professional committees for practising lawyers or accountants – can also be a useful source of knowledge about recurring errors made by authorities. In addition, priority is not only given to investigating cases where errors have been made – but also to preventing errors being made in the first place. From where: Specific complaint cases or monitoring visits may give rise to suspicion of recurring errors and be the launch pad for an own-initiative investigation. When the Ombudsman is investigating a specific case, his focus is therefore, among other things, on problems which characterise not only that particular case. How: In general own-initiative investigations, the focus is expanded beyond specific to more general problems, for instance by the Ombudsman asking the authority to provide details of its practice in a specific type of cases. Similarly, in investigations based on a review of a number of specific cases, it is not the individual case – but the general issue investigated – which is of central interest. Own-initiative investigations typically have a forward-looking focus in that solutions are pointed out and the authority given guidance on how matters may be rectified.