5 THE POSSIBILITIES OF KEEPING A PHYSICAL DISTANCE AND PROVIDING INFORMATION TO PEOPLE DEPRIVED OF THEIR LIBERT Y made markings on the floor to make it easier for patients to maintain a distance to one another in the queue. Chief Parliamentary Ombudsman Elisabeth Rynning stated that the National Board of Forensic Medicine had taken measures to make it possible for both patients and staff to follow the Public Health Agency of Sweden’s recommendations. She stated that it was positive that the agency was actively trying to find ways to improve conditions. Part of the National Board of Forensic Medicine’s investigations consists of staff observing patients’ social interactions. These observations are described in notes. Prior to the change, the National Board of Forensic Medicine feared that the quality of these observations would deteriorate if the patients were given a greater opportunity to spend time by themselves. However, the National Board of Forensic Medicine’s management stated that the quality of these observation notes, in the opinion of the staff, had not been affected. It was also stated that a project had been initiated with the aim of reviewing the quality of the observation notes made during the pandemic. a majority (65 per cent) of those who responded stated that they had not received any special information from the Prison and Probation Service concerning Covid-19. A majority (67 per cent) also stated that they did not know what measures the agency had taken to prevent the spread of infection. A quarter (25 per cent) stated that they did not know if they belonged to an at-risk group that could suffer greater upon infection of Covid-19. When the Prison and Probation Service introduced restrictions on visits and leave, the agency also produced some written information regarding Covid-19. According to the agency, it was primarily for the staff who had daily contact with inmates to be responsible for communicating relevant information orally. Due to this, Parliamentary Ombudsman Katarina Påhlsson stated the following in her decision:4 “In my opinion, such an approach requires that staff be aware of their obligation to provide information, be knowledgeable concerning what information is to be provided and that they regularly inform and also ensure that inmates absorb the information. The questionnaire provided to inmates shows that there is a clear discrepancy between the Prison and Probation Service’s ambition and the result it has achieved in this regard.” 5.2 Information to people deprived of their liberty Each of the agencies investigated are obliged to keep the people under their responsibility informed concerning the conditions of their deprivation of liberty. This information can be with regard to, inter alia, their rights during the deprivation of liberty but also what obligations they may have. The fact that people deprived of their liberty receive correct information is a prerequisite for them to be able to exercise their rights. The Prison and Probation Service In the questionnaire that the Parliamentary Ombudsman provided to inmates in the prisons and remand prisons, In the questionnaires, inmates stated that they lacked information concerning, inter alia, what measures the Prison and Probation Service is taking to prevent the spread of infection, how long the current situation would last, what measures the Prison and Probation Service takes if an inmate was suspected of being infected with Covid-19, 4 See the Parliamentary Ombudsman’s decision of 30 June 2020, ref. no. O 122020. – 34 –