62 According to figures from the Directorate of the Norwegian Correctional Service, minors were placed in a security cell in ten instances during the period 2014–2018, the last few years primarily in the juvenile prisons. According to the Directorate, in one instance the confinement lasted for more than 24 hours. These figures are uncertain as they do not seem to include six administrative decisions that the Parliamentary Ombudsman found during a document review at Bergen Prison in 2018. The longest stay lasted 15 hours. The minors in question had been transferred from the Juvenile Unit at Bjørgvin Prison, which until then did not have an approved security cell of its own. When reviewing the security cell records, it was found that the prison did not practise continuous monitoring, as required in the case of minors. At least one ­involuntary body search of an inmate who was a female minor was carried out in the presence of a male prison officer. In another case, there were no records to document how a minor had been treated during a stay of 13 hours in the security cell. According to figures from the Directorate of the ­Norwegian Correctional Service, there were 13 ­instances of use of restraint beds in Norwegian prisons in 2018. In ten of these instances, the inmate was restrained for less than 24 hours, in one instance for 48 hours and in two instances for 72 hours. Special Report to the Storting Document 4:3 (2018–2019) 63 9.1 Intrusive form of solitary confinement Features associated with the use of security cells ­reinforce all the harmful elements of solitary ­confinement. When confined to a security cell, inmates are stripped of virtually all self-control and autonomy, and are d ­ ependant of the staff as regards their own health and welfare. In many cases, the use of security cells entails extensive use of force in connection with detainment and transportation, as well as a full body search (strip search). This is a traumatic experience for many inmates, and it can increase the risk of mental or physical injuries. It can also add to the burdensome effect of the subsequent confinement. Security cells are made of concrete, have bare walls, a plastic mattress and a squat toilet in the floor. The design of such cells can cause inmates to lose their sense of time and quickly become disorientated. Many security cells still have no clock that is visible to the inmate or any colour contrasts between the walls, floor and ceiling. Squat toilet and hatch for food delivery. After its visit to Ullersmo Prison in 2018, the CPT stated that cells of less than six square metres must only be used for a few hours.197 During our visits, we have found that some security cells are worn and very small.198 ­Another consistent finding is that the cells offer little access to views of the outdoors or natural light. Many security cells have windows that are too high up on the wall to offer a view, frosted windows, or windows that do not let in daylight because they face the adjacent corridor. Many security cells are constantly lit. This obviously ­represent a risk of inhuman treatment and can be a great burden on the inmate’s health by reducing the possibility of sleep. This is a particular heavy burden for individuals who are experiencing a mental crisis. It is a known fact that sleep has a healing effect and is important where there is a risk of suicide. The Nelson Mandela Rules prohibit the use of constantly lit cells.199 Security cells are often placed in a separate corridor that is shielded from other sections, and sometimes on a separate floor. In one prison, the one-way calling system in the security cells had been disconnected because the staff felt there had been too many calls to the guard room. That security cell inmates are denied the possibility of contacting the prison officers via the calling system will reinforce the feeling of being deserted and powerless, and can trigger anxiety in the inmate. The possibility of maintaining personal hygiene is very limited in a security cell. The squat toilet has to be flushed by the staff from outside the cell. There is no washbasin or shower, and only in very special cases is the inmate taken for a shower outside the cell. Meals for security cell inmates are always pushed through a hatch near the floor. This limits the possibility of talking with the inmate when handing out meals, and it is a hygiene problem because the meal hatch is often located close to the squat toilet. After its visit to Norway, the CPT stated that food and beverages should, as far as possible, not be delivered through such hatches.200 In the supervision protocols, we have seen several examples of inmates having all their clothing removed. In most cases, the grounds for this are stated as being the risk of suicide. In one prison, inmates were placed in the security cells completely naked as a matter of routine, and were only able to cover themselves with a blanket. Clock visible from the cell. 197 The Directorate of the Norwegian Correctional Service issued requirements for the design of security cells in 2016. Security cells shall be inspected and approved by the Directorate before they are used. 198 Council of Europe: Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT), Report to the Norwegian Government on the visit to Norway 2018, CPT/Inf (2019) 1, paragraph 108. 199 The Nelson Mandela Rules, Rule 43. 200 Council of Europe: Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT), Report to the Norwegian Government on the visit to Norway 2018, CPT/Inf (2019) 1, paragraph 109.