the prison and probation service further contribute to counteracting the negative consequences of deprivation of liberty. For this reason, the Chief Parliamentary Ombudsman recommended the Prison and Probation Service examine what opportunities exist and what measures need to be taken to ensure individuals deprived of their liberty can also use these premises and areas.17 One of the Berga remand prison branch’s departments (Department 1: 5) lacks common areas, and for this reason the inmates were directed to associate with each other in the department’s corridor. Up to seven inmates could associate in this limited space at one time and it was only equipped with a dining area designed for two people. Following the inspection, the Chief Parliamentary Ombudsman stated that it could be strongly questioned whether the corridor could be described as a department. Furthermore, it could be questioned whether the way in which the space was used was compatible with the basic provision that each inmate must be treated with respect for their human dignity and with an understanding of the special difficulties associated with deprivation of liberty. For this reason, the Prison and Probation Service should consider whether the premises should be used as a department and, therefore, constitute permanent places in the remand prison branch’s operations. Finally, the Chief Parliamentary Ombudsman stated that if the Prison and Probation Service still intended to use the cells as permanent remand prison places, it must immediately review the inmates’ opportunities to associate with each other. In the view of the Chief Parliamentary Ombudsman, it is inadequate to direct the inmates to associate with one another in the corridor, and it is remarkable that the Prison and Probation Service expects inmates to eat their meals in this very limited space. For this reason, the agency must take the necessary measures to enable the individuals deprived of their liberty in Department 1:5 to be able to associate with each other on the same terms as inmates in the other units of the remand prison branch.18 Work to prevent acts of self-harm Individuals held on remand are in a vulnerable situation and the execution of a decision to deprive someone of their liberty must be conducted in such a manner that negative consequences are counteracted.19 The Prison and Probation Service works with preventive measures to, inter alia, detect the risk of suicide and other acts of self-harm. An important part of this work is that the remand prison cells are designed and set up in a way to prevent, as far as is possible, inter alia, suicide and that the Prison and Probation Service carefully considers the risks regarding the items placed in the cells. 17 See the Parliamentary Ombudsmen’s report p. 11, ref. no. O 39-2019. 18 See the Parliamentary Ombudsmen’s report p. 11, ref. no. O 39-2019. 19 See Chapter 1, Section 5 of the Remand Prisons Act. 39