the police authority facility in Ljungby – located in a much smaller town than Växjö – has more cells than the police custody facility in Växjö. In addition, the police custody facility in Växjö is the only one open 24 hours a day in Kronoberg County. There is no sobering up facility in Växjö, which means that people who are detained due to intoxication remain in police custody. The police custody facility does not have its own exercise yard and has only limited access to the exercise yard in the remand prison in Växjö. In light of these circumstances and the fact that the police custody facility lacked rooms for lawyer-client meetings, it appeared, in the Parliament Ombudsman’s view, that it is necessary for the Police Authority to review the adequacy of its custody facilities.19 Inmates’ clothing and bedding If needed, an inmate must be provided with bedding, clothing and footwear. These items may be restricted if it is necessary to prevent inmates from injuring themselves or others. An inmate should have something to cover themselves with and is not allowed to be in custody without clothing for longer than is necessary for their safety.20 The Parliamentary Ombudsman has previously stated that it is unsatisfactory, from a hygiene and dignity perspective, that individuals held in police custody facilities do not receive bedding.21 The Parliamentary Ombudsman has also stated that individuals in custody’s access to clothing may only be restricted to prevent them from harming themselves or others. In other situations, individuals held in custody have the right to wear their own clothes if they wish, and changing into clothing provided by the Police Authority cannot, for that reason, be mandatory.22 During the inspections of the police custody facilities in Arvika, Karlskoga and Kristinehamn, it emerged that individuals detained due to intoxication did not generally receive a blanket upon arrival. In the police custody facility in Växjö, individuals apprehended, arrested or otherwise detained received blankets, pillows and pillowcases but not sheets. Individuals detained due to intoxication did not have access to blankets. Similar information emerged during the inspection of the police custody facility in Karlskrona. The Parliamentary Ombudsman stated in the reports following the inspections that an individual held in police custody should, as a general rule, be provided with bedding and reiterated previous statements made on this issue. Regarding the police custody facility in Växjö, the Parliamentary Ombudsman also stated that an individual detained due to intoxication should normally be offered a blanket or similar for cover and for warmth.23 19 See the Parliamentary Ombudsmen’s report p. 2–4, 9 and 10, ref. no. O 21-2019. 20 See Chapter 3 Section 3 of the Police Authority’s regulations and general advice on police custody facilities, PMFS 2015: 7, FAP 102-1. 21 See the Parliamentary Ombudsmen’s report p. 9, ref. no. 6363-2016. 22 See the Parliamentary Ombudsmen’s report p. 8, ref. no. 6361-2016. 23 See the Parliamentary Ombudsmen’s report p. 3 and 5, ref. no. O 33-2019, report p. 5, 11 and 12, ref. no. O 47-2019, report p. 7, ref. no. O 48-2019 and report p. 4, ref. no. O 49-2019 and report p. 3, 8 and 9, ref. no. O 21-2019. 23