40 the prison and probation service During the inspection of the remand prison in Trelleborg, it emerged that an inmate had taken his life by, inter alia, using a cord to a game console. After the suicide, the remand prison provided cordless games. The inspection revealed that the televisions used in some rooms had normal-length cables. The Chief Parliamentary Ombudsman emphasised that it is important that the Prison and Probation Service ensures that the experiences from the remand prison in Trelleborg are also used within the entire agency in its work in preventing suicide. It is, of course, important that inmates have access to television. The Chief Parliamentary Ombudsman reiterated that the remand prison, however, should always consider what measures can be taken to reduce the risk of suicide when loose items are placed in a cell.20 Possibility to visit the toilet at night During the inspection of the prison Västervik Norra, shortcomings in the physical environment such as worn premises, that all cells lacked toilets and that some of the cells lacked sinks were noted. During the inspection, the planning for an extensive renovation of the prison was in progress. In connection with this, the cells will be equipped, inter alia, with toilets. However, it will take several years before the work is completed. Until the renovation is completed, the inmates will be dependent on staff unlocking the cell door for toilet visits at night. In conversations that the Parliamentary Ombudsmen’s employees had with inmates, it emerged that they fulfilled their needs in assigned “urinal bottle” and in waste bins. Following the inspection, the Parliamentary Ombudsmen stated that the distribution of such urinal bottles sends a signal to the inmates that they must first and foremost fulfil their needs in the cell, and that it can be questioned whether this is compatible with the Prisons Act’s provision that each inmate must be treated with respect for human dignity. Pending the work of improving the physical environment in the prison, in the view of the Parliamentary Ombudsmen, the Prison and Probation Service should take the necessary measures to ensure that inmates have access to a toilet after being locked up for the night. One measure could be to increase staffing at night.21 4.2 Own-initiative inquiries concerning remand prisons and prisons Following the inspections of the prison Västervik Norra and the remand prison inspections in April and May, the Parliamentary Ombudsman decided to investigate certain issues within the framework of an own-initiative inquiry. The questions that the Parliamentary Ombudsman chose to investigate are: • An inmate’s access to health and medical care (the prison Västervik Norra). • The occupancy situation within the Prison and Probation Service. 20 See the Parliamentary Ombudsmen’s report p. 7, ref. no. O 28-2019. 21 See the Parliamentary Ombudsmen’s report p. 15, ref. no. O 46-2019.