THE NATIONAL CENTRE FOR THE PREVENTION OF DISSOCIAL BEHAVIOURS IN GOSTYNIN In connection with the COVID-19 pandemic, the NMPT attempted to conduct a remote monitoring visit to the Gostynin Centre, using the Skype communicator or other video-transmission technology. On 19 May 2020, the NMPT director sent a letter to the Centre director notifying him of the intention to conduct an online monitoring visit to the Centre420. He also requested access to at least one computer station with the Skype communicator, so that the NMPT representatives could speak with the patients freely and in private. On 26 May 2020, the Centre director replied that due to lack of space in the Centre, the proposed form of communication was impossible. He suggested that contact with the patients be made via their private mobile phones or the cordless telephone in the nurses room. The director did not agree, either, to a traditional on-site visit and stated that that due to the pandemic people who were not employed by the Centre were not permitted to enter it. Thus, the CHR wrote two letters to the Minister of Health requesting that steps be taken to make it possible for the representatives of the NMPT to carry out their mandate and hold online interviews with the patients and the staff members of the Centre421. According to the Act on the Commissioner for Human Rights the institution to which the Commissioner sends a letter should reply within 30 days422, The CHR has not yet received any reply regarding the issue. On 4 December 2020, the NMPT director again requested the Gostynin Centre director to make it possible for the NMPT delegation to hold online interviews with patients and employees of the Centre. He thought this would be possible because of a larger number of computers with internet access then used in the Centre423. However, the request did not bring any effect. The Centre director replied that since 11 September 2020, in each ward patients have the possibility to use an info-kiosk with internet access. The device is available in a place that is accessible to every patient, i.e. in the canteen or the occupational therapy room. There, it is impossible for the patient to have a conversation with a representative of the National Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture freely and in private. This was 420 The visit was to assess the degree of implementation of the NMPT recommendations issued following the last visit to the Centre held on 18-20 February 2019. (KMP.574.2.2020.RK). 421 The first general intervention letter of the CHR to the Minister of Health on the permission for the NMPT representatives to carry out an inspection visit to the Gostynin centre (10.07.2020). The second letter, given the absence of a response, was sent on 8.09.2020. (KMP.574.2.2020). 422 See: Article 15(2) of the Act on the Commissioner for Human Rights. 423 The CHR Office received, in August 2020, a letter from the Gostynin Centre, informing about the implementation of the agreement concluded on 29 June 2020 between the patients and the management and staff of the Centre, under which, among others, the retrofitting of the Centre's accommodation wards by installing computer stations with internet access had begun. 151