National Preventive Mechanism Annual Report 2009–10 Even where detainees were held in more appropriate settings providing care and treatment, they still experienced difficulties, including access to appropriate mental health services. In particular, children experienced inappropriate placements, such as in adult psychiatric wards, and faced difficulties when making the transition from child to adult services. Resources Another significant issue is that of limited resources. This is true of the places of detention visited and their capacity to deliver adequate services to detainees, but also for NPM members themselves. There is a fear that the progress that has been made in recent years in the treatment and conditions for all detainees may not only stall, but that standards may actually begin to fall. In prisons, for example, inadequate funding will impact all aspects of detention. It will adversely affect the standard of accommodation, the prisoner’s time out of cell and the provision of education and rehabilitative programmes. For members of the NPM, a decrease in funding may inhibit their ability to continue to carry out visiting to the current extent and standard. Vulnerable groups While all those held in custody may be considered vulnerable, the vulnerability of particular groups of detainees is often heightened. All members of the NPM expressed concern about such groups, including women, children, those with physical and learning disabilities and those who misuse alcohol and drugs. The members highlighted the need for detaining authorities and service providers to pay particular attention to the rights and needs of these groups. 18 Restraint Several members have reported concerns about the use of restraint on detainees across different types of detention. They have questioned whether restraint is being used safely, only when absolutely necessary and whether appropriate methods are used on children. Prison population Many of the members who visit prisons have expressed concerns about the rising prison population and the overcrowding of prisons. This has an adverse affect on all aspects of a prisoner’s life, including safety, the prison regime, their ability to maintain sufficient contact with their family and their preparation for release. Prisons may find themselves increasingly unable to deal with problems caused by overcrowding because of decreasing resources. Detention of children for immigration purposes The detention of children for immigration purposes was cited as a key concern by all members of the NPM who visit the immigration estate. They were most concerned that decisions to detain children, or to continue their detention, did not fully take account of the best interests of the child. They also cited the negative impact that such detention can have on children, including on their emotional wellbeing and their mental health, and their ties with the community. The members recommended that the detention of children be ended and viable alternatives to detention be developed. The government has since announced its intention to end the detention of children for immigration purposes and the NPM is awaiting the implementation of the government’s plans.