one situation it was brought to the Mission’s attention that following the visit of the Ombudsman, several prisoners in one penal institution might have been questioned by prison personnel about the content of these interviews. Such behaviour is assumed to constitute the exception. However, this behaviour seriously undermines any kind of prison monitoring programme which must be founded on a relationship of trust between the interviewer and interviewee; and furthermore, it sheds a bad light on prison staff and endorses assumptions of misconduct. Over all, co-operation with the prison administrations has been largely smooth, and unhindered access to prisoners has been provided in order to conduct interviews in a secure and private atmosphere. 23