5 improve the current situation, and it looks forward to the final report of the working group on reorganization measures to be undertaken. b) Uniform rules of allocating competence: Already in its previous annual reports, the NPM expressed its regret concerning the position of the Government that, due to the shortage of resources, it continues to have no intention to abolish the currently mixed competences in the field of corrections within the Ministry for Home Affairs, Justice and Economic Affairs. The NPM therefore once again this year reiterates its regret in this regard and, by way of justification, refers to its previous annual reports as well as Rule 71 of the European Prison Rules of the Council of Europe, according to which corrections facilities must be separate from police and investigation authorities. The NPM therefore reiterates its recommendation to the Government that in future, with regard to legal competence, corrections should be made the exclusive competence of the Ministry for Justice or the Office of Justice to preclude abuses and to create uniform rules allocating competence that comply with European corrections standards. c) Female inmates Already in previous years, the NPM showed that the spatial conditions in the National Prison are, in individual cases, not suitable to ensure detention of female inmates that is in conformity with the principles of execution of sentences. This is especially the case when only one woman is being detained and it is therefore not possible for her to interact with other female inmates. The prison management's practice that has evolved in recent years in light of this situation is to allow female inmates to receive more visitors for the purpose of encouraging social contacts, along with more intensive service provided by the Office of Social Services. In the view of the NPM, it is gratifying that this practice was continued in 2016.

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