NPM teams carried out 5 inspections upon complaints at 1 District Department, 2 District Department and 3 District Department – Sofia Directorate of the Interior. The Ombudsman sent a recommendation to the Minister of the Interior and the Director of the Sofia Directorate of the Interior demanding an impartial inspection and effective investigation of the cases in which there were serious concerns about the unauthorised use of force by police officers in the event of detention. The Ombudsman expressly emphasises the need to examine if there is proportionality in the use of physical force and auxiliary means by the lawenforcement authorities as a fundamental principle set out in international acts, the Bulgarian law and the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. In line with this principle, any force used must correspond strictly to the attaining a legitimate aim. By virtue of letter No. 5 13000-37281/03.08.2020, the Ombudsman was informed that an order of the Director of the Sofia Directorate of the Interior sets out an inspection under Article 205, para 2 of the MoI Act. After its completion, the committee found exceeding of official powers on the part of police officers and violations of the citizens’ fundamental rights in the use of physical force exceeding the limits set. The materials from the inspection were sent to the Sofia District Prosecutor’s Office in view of competence. 20