78 annual report 2012 DETAILED STATISTICS This section provides a detailed explanation of the main figures related to the cases processed by the office. The Ombudsman statistics are intended to reflect some important characteristics of the cases processed – but also to say something about the utilisation of the institution’s resources. The presentation is based on some general distinctions. First of all, this section and the section ‘Key figures’ on pages 75-77 provide information about new cases at the office and the cases which have been processed by the office. The figures for concluded cases relate to cases concluded in 2012 – irrespective of when they were opened – while the figures for new cases relate to cases opened in 2012 – irrespective of whether they were concluded in 2012 or later. The figures are therefore typically not identical. In addition, a distinction is made between different types of cases: complaint cases, monitoring cases (until 1 November 2012 termed ‘inspection cases’) and cases opened by the Ombudsman on his own initiative (own-initiative cases), cases where the complainant or others request access to documents, cases connected with international cooperation etc. The degree to which individual case types are included in the statistics varies. However, the figures for the cases concluded in 2012 and the information in the section ‘Key figures’ about the number of new cases relate only to the first three types of cases. Finally, a distinction is made between cases which the Ombudsman concludes with a statement about the issue(s) raised in the case – referred to as substantively investigated cases – and cases which are rejected for various reasons. In general, a substantive investigation is carried out on the basis of a consultation where the authorities have the opportunity to make a statement to the Ombudsman about the content of the complaint. However, in particularly obvious cases where the Ombudsman does not express criticism or make recommendations, he may choose to consider the complaint without prior consultation.