DOC/OS(XXXIII)/324c/I 22 Open air facilities In most prisons, prisoners had basic access to the courtyard adjoining their dormitory. This courtyard is not very big. It is built in a way (with an inaccessible central square) that does not allow many physical or leisure activities, except for walking and sometimes gardening on a very small scale. Prisoners sometimes get a chance to take part in sports (usually football and netball) outside the prison buildings. At Windhoek prison, these activities were cancelled in 1998 for security reasons, except for netball for the women in winter. At Omaruru prison, the courtyards are extremely small considering the large number of prisoners. Prisoners exercise all at the same time, which means there is not much space for each one. Exercise could be taken in turns (one or two cells at a time) in the most crowded sections. In police stations, prisoners only have access to the courtyard next to their cell. However, the courtyard itself is occupied by inmates for whom there is not enough room indoors. Prisoners without access to any other space in the open air are confined night and day in the same cramped space, without any real possibility of physical exercise. Religious premises There are no proper places for worship in the prisons, but inmates have access to meeting for prayers or religious activities. Masses are also celebrated. Assemblies of people are restricted for security reasons. Inmates in some sections meet in the refectories but cannot join others from other sections belonging to different categories of prisoners. There are no places of worship in police stations. Visitors' Rooms The various sections of the prisons (adults, minors) are equipped with modern visitors' rooms with partitions and interphones. Adjoining these visitors' rooms there are waiting rooms with toilets for the visitors. However, in some establishments, the interphones are faulty (Walvis Bay, Hardap). This makes communication extremely difficult. The prisoners and their visitors have to speak loudly to be heard and understood on the other side of the partition, the sound level may be very high and the lack of privacy embarrassing and discouraging. This situation has brought complaints by inmates and staff. Convicted prisoners have complained about crowding of the visitors' rooms on Saturdays and Sundays, the days which are reserved for visits to convicted prisoners. Some prisoners (category A) have the right to receive their visitors in an open room with benches and chairs where families may meet for the duration of the visit (« contact visits »). This is commendable as it brings a homely atmosphere to the inmate. In police stations, there is no space reserved for visits. Inmates receive their visitors in the police premises or outside under police surveillance. Library In most establishments, prisoners have access to a library with books in English and Afrikaans, mostly rather old, and some magazines. It should be noted that the number of books is limited (Oluno) and inmates complained of the lack of variety and requested new replacements.