opcat inspections and follow-up ombudsman decisions 41 finalise the information sheet as soon as possible for subsequent distribution to all police stations. In its response to the SPT’s report, the Government announced that an information sheet, in 40 different languages, had been finalised and made available in December 2008 for use in police detention facilities. The issue of information about rights is central in conjunction with a deprivation of liberty. One prerequisite for inmates to be able to assert their rights is that they are aware of them. OPCAT inspectors always ask questions about whether information about rights has been provided and this question is followed up during their conversations with inmates. The Parliamentary Ombudsman has repeatedly found that the authorities do not provide information about rights in a systematic manner. Another question is whether the information that is provided is adapted so that it is understandable to the recipient. The issue of information for inmates in police detention facilities has been investigated by the Parliamentary Ombudsman. Police detention facilities The Parliamentary Ombudsman’s decision9 emphasised that a deprivation of liberty is a serious encroachment on personal freedom and that it is very important that persons deprived of their liberty are given information about their rights. Among other things, this is a prerequisite if they are to be able to assert these rights. The Preliminary Investigations Ordinance contains provisions concerning information for persons suspected of a crime, stating that this information is to be in a language which the inmate understands and, as regards those arrested and on remand, to be in writing. The inmate is to have access to this information the entire time they are deprived of their liberty. In the Parliamentary Ombudsman’s view, written information should also be provided to persons deprived of their liberty for reasons other than that they are suspected of an offence, and this information should be provided in a language that the inmate understands. All information must also be designed so that it is clear and easy to understand. If there is need, this should be supplemented by oral information. The Parliamentary Ombudsman’s decision also emphasised the importance of providing information about rights in as close conjunction with the deprivation of liberty as possible; this should be done no later than when taking the detained person into the police cell block. 9 Ref. no. 2752-2013 Example from police detention Under Chapter 24, Section 9 of the Swedish Code of Judicial Procedure, when persons are apprehended or arrested or when an order for arrest is executed, they shall be informed of the offence for which they are suspected and the grounds for their deprivation of liberty. The rule corresponds to the obligation in Article 5, point 2 of the European Convention, which stipulates that those arrested shall be informed of the reasons for their arrest and of any charges against them. This is to be done promptly and in a language which they understand. One inmate stated during the inspection that, in conjunction with the execution of an arrest order in his home, he was not informed of the offence of which he was suspected, and when he asked the police, the answer he received was that they did not know. It was the Prison and Probation Service personnel who informed him of the offence of which he was suspected in conjunction with his registration at the police cell block. An underage inmate who had been picked up at home stated that it took four hours before he was informed of the offence of which he was suspected.