NORWEGIAN PARLIAMENTARY OMBUDSMAN National Preventive Mechanism ANNUAL REPORT 2018 34 A review of the prison’s procedures for the remand section showed that nearly all inmates were held under conditions that, according to international guidelines, constitute isolation. The prison had few measures to compensate for the detrimental effects of isolation, and there were inmates who appeared to function particularly poorly under these conditions. A higher number of inmates at Arendal Prison expressed suicidal thoughts, or reported that fellow inmates had such thoughts, than the NPM has previously encountered during visits to prisons. Limited social interaction and long lock-ups during the weekends were pointed out as contributing causes by several inmates. The NPM is concerned that the extent of the ­lock-ins constitutes a risk of inhuman treatment. The NPM’s investigations showed that 53 of the 113 decisions on partial isolation were based on there being no available places in the communal section. Using a shortage of places as grounds for isolation is problematic from a legal perspective. Arendal Prison had two holding cells. These were located in the security section together with the two security cells, separated from the prison’s regular sections. Both holding cells appeared to be worn-out and not suitable for a prolonged stay. The information given to new inmates was inadequate. A number of problematic findings relating to activities for the inmates also emerged. At the time of the visit, the prison did not offer any programme activities, and the fitness room showed signs of wear and tear, with little equipment and poor ventilation. During the visit, it emerged that the inmates who had access to education and work activities were satisfied with these. At the same time, it was found that the activity programme was often limited because the prison did not have the funds to hire temporary staff to keep the operations running when staff were on sick leave. Bergen Prison 2–4 May 2018 The visit to Bergen Prison was part of the follow up of the NPM’s report following its previous visit in 2014. The main purpose of the visit in 2018 was to investigate the prison's practices in connection with isolation and time spent outside the cells. Bergen Prison is Norway’s second largest prison and has an ordinary capacity of 265 places, divided between 209 high security places and 56 lower security places. The NPM’s visit did not include the prison’s lower security section. The NPM found that the prison's security cells were in bad condition, and that the size of the smallest cell ­bordered on the European Committee for the ­P revention of Torture’s (CPT) minimum ­recommendations. The calling system did not work and the lights were on in the cells all day round with no possibility of dimming even during night time. The NPM was concerned about weaknesses discovered in the procedures and practices relating to placing minors on restraint beds and the placement of minors in security cells. A review of records from 2017 showed that around 24 per cent of all placements in security cells were due to a risk of suicide or self-harm. Four of nine placements in security cells between January and May 2018 were made to prevent suicide or self-harm. The prison administration informed the NPM that a shortage of resources was a contributing factor to security cell placements. It is a serious and reprehensible matter that persons in an acute life crisis are placed in a security cell and that the resource situation is partly to blame for this. The NPM was informed that women were at times placed in the restricted section A-vest because there were no available places in the women’s section. The NPM finds it very worrying that women are placed in a restricted section due to a shortage of places and resources.