Implementation of Duties and Powers of the National Preventive Mechanism in 2010 3. Visits to police stations In the framework of exercising the duties and powers of the National Preventive Mechanism (DPM), 22 police stations (PP) were visited in 2010 to check the treatment of persons deprived of liberty. At PPs with detention rooms we also checked these and verified detention procedures (in 2010, we visited PP Litija and PP Medvode, which do not have detention rooms, and verified procedures only for detained persons). During the visits, we observed that police officers were well-informed of the duties and powers of the DPM, which enabled a smooth operation. All visits were unannounced and performed in the morning. After each visit, the DPM group prepared a report on the findings, with recommendations sent to the Ministry of the Interior (MNZ) and the visited PP for information. MNZ regularly responded to our reports. In the majority of cases, they agreed with our findings and assured us that some deficiencies had already been eliminated or that improvements were planned. During the visit to PPs, the group of representatives of the Ombudsman and of one or two contractual organisations performed an examination of all detention rooms including auxiliary rooms (reception area, room for foreigners, for the lawyer and for the interrogation, warehouse, walking area) and intervention vehicles. The group also talked to the PP management (usually the commander, assistant commander or duty officer) and reviewed detention procedures for randomly selected persons. In examining the detention rooms, our focus was primarily on: the proper illumination of the rooms (daylight and artificial lighting), proper temperature and ventilation of rooms, labelling and cleanliness of rooms, equipment and size of rooms, toilets, access to drinking water, food supply, video-surveillance of rooms and the option to make telephone calls, equipment of rooms with information and brochures on the rights of detained persons, the possibility for outdoor exercise, regulation of complaints channels and (im)proper video-surveillance of toilets. The general examination of the PP also focused on: car parks for clients, designation of parking for the disabled, appropriate access for the disabled, wardrobe for police officers, and potential separation of men and women. After examining the detention rooms, we talked to the management of the PP to present our first evaluations on the adequacy of their detention rooms, point out the observed deficiencies and welcomed good solutions or practices. At each visit, we reviewed documentation (files) on randomly selected cases of detention, i.e. detention on the basis of the Minor Offences Act, the Criminal Procedure Act, the Road Traffic Safety Act and the Police Act. We also obtained statistical data on the number of detained and persons held under the State Border Control Act at the visited PP in 2010 (from 1 January to the date of the visit). Except for the Airport Police Station Brnik in PP Šmarje pri Jelšah (where one person was held from 1 January to the date of the visit), there were no persons held in the other visited PP. Basic information on detention rooms Among PPs, the number of detention rooms varies from one to five, with the exception of the Detention Centre, which has twenty rooms. With more detention rooms available, some may be used for shorter detentions (up to 12 hours), and others for longer detentions (up to 48 hours). National Preventive Mechanism in the Republic of Slovenia under the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment 23