2012 at the Ombudsman Institution the Ombudsman may take up a case on his own initiative may in itself have a useful preventive effect in relation to the authorities. We would therefore like to take up a considerable number of cases on our own initiative. For this reason as well, it is important that we carefully choose the complaint cases which we decide to enter so that we do not ‘drown’ in them. In 2012, we succeeded in taking up 23 per cent more cases on our own initiative than in 2011. Faster processing of large cases We conclude the great majority of cases within a reasonable time (and many cases very quickly). However, we frequently have problems with large, more complex cases, where the case processing may easily take many months. Long case processing times are generally a significant problem within the administration – and a problem which the Ombudsman often criticises. It is therefore of course important that the Ombudsman institution itself leads the way towards good, appropriate case processes and generally towards focusing not only on high professional standards, but also on speed, efficiency and optimal use of resources. Also these issues were discussed in detail in the institution in 2012. We addressed them by a combination of different means, including thorough screening of complaint cases before they are taken up, careful consideration of which aspects of the individual complaint case to investigate, thorough assessment when statements requested from authorities are received, regular assessment of our resource capacity and more concise wording for some types of cases. In 2012, we also took the first steps towards an overall external analysis of the organisation, which was carried out in spring 2013. We are now in the process of implementing some of its results. Correct communication of important Ombudsman messages Ombudsman messages are primarily communicated in individual cases. The requirements in relation to legal thoroughness and precision which we impose on ourselves mean that it is probably sometimes difficult for the authorities to separate out the relevant – and often actually quite simple – messages. 13