ANNUAL SPECIAL REPORT 2018 61 7.b. Cooperation – visits i. European Committee for the Prevention of Torture During the visit of the Delegation of the European Commission for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) to Greece (April 10-19), members of the Delegation met with representatives of the NPM30 to be briefed on the Greek mental health system, hospitalisation conditions and the safety of mental patients as well as cases of violation of their rights. The NPM provided information on psychiatric clinics with serious operational problems. The CPT refers to its cooperation with the NPM in its relevant report31. ii. Cooperation with other NPMs In the framework of the NPM’s programme for cooperation with the United Kingdom Institution and the Oxford University Criminology Centre, a senior investigator of the Authority took part in training activities on exchange of expertise (London, 13-18 May). In the same context, the Head of the Royal Prison Inspection Service (HMIPS) and his colleagues conducted a training course for all members of the Greek NPM team (28 September), at the offices of the Ombudsman, on the methodology of conducting an inspection in criminal and administrative detention facilities, the preparation of reports, observations and recommendations to the Administration on the monitoring of their implementation. During a training visit (5-6 March), the director of the Australian NPM, Steven Caruana, was briefed by a Greek NPM team on their operation and practices and attended inspections carried out by the senior investigators at the Women's Detention Facility and the Rehabilitation Centre for Detainees in Thebes. Representatives of European NPMs and national Ombudsmen institutions participated in a working meeting (Nafplio, 14 October) on the Ombudsman's initiative to set up an external mechanism for monitoring the forced returns of foreigners organised by Frontex. 7.c. Information actions • The Deputy Ombudsmen G. Nikolopoulos and T. Koufonikolakou participated in the meeting of the Special Permanent Parliamentary Committee on the Penitentiary System and Other Forms of Confinement of Detainees on "The Institutional Role of the Om30 The Greek Ombudsman, Press Release https://www.synigoros.gr/?i=human-rights. el.danews.491717 31 European Commission for the Prevention of Torture, https://rm.coe.int/1680930c9a