fundamental and human rights �.� national preventive mechanism against torture law to persons deprived of their liberty in all situations (4488/2017). The visits have also raised the question of how catering at police prisons should be assessed from the perspective of food legislation. The Deputy-Ombudsman has decided to investigate the matter. He found a joint investigation by the National Police Board and the Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira (the Finnish Food Authority from 1 January 2019) of the requirements imposed by food legislation on catering in police prisons, both as a whole and taking into account the various local arrangements, to be justified. The Deputy-Ombudsman also noted that the matters described in the report should also be taken into account in future amendments to the Police Custody Act and the decrees and regulations issued by virtue of the Act. The National Police Board was requested to report on the measures it had taken on the matter (59/2018). As its position, the National Police Board stated that food safety was not completely realised in all police prisons. The Board indicated that it would continue investigating the matter in cooperation with Evira. The NPM noted that the hot meal was offered quite early in the afternoon. The interval to the morning meal is long, even taking the light evening meal into account. The Deputy-Ombudsman noted that, if changing these meal times is not possible, particular attention should be paid to the diet and meal rhythm of those persons deprived of their liberty whose health requires such considerations, such as persons with diabetes (849/2018). The National Police Board noted that the canteen delivers extra evening meal bags to the police prison each evening, which can then be distributed to persons who, on account of their health or other equivalent reasons, require more nourishment or meals at shorter intervals. 82 In his decision on the complaint, the Deputy-Ombudsman recommended the police to compensate the complainants for the harm suffered by them due to the police’s serious neglect of its duty to arrange meals in the police prison by virtue of the Police Act. Four persons taken into custody by virtue of the Police Act were deprived of their liberty for 19 hours. They were served no food during this time (5304/2017). The police reported that it had reached an agreement with the complainants for the compensation of the harm caused to them, and EUR 150 was paid in compensation to each complainant. Detention of a suspect in the drunk tank Use of a police prison’s detention facilities was banned due to indoor air problems. The temporary detention facilities were primarily reserved for persons detained by virtue of the Police Act, i.e. mostly intoxicated persons. Regardless of this, the documents and accounts of the guards seemed to indicate that persons taken into custody due to suspected offences were held there quite often. The criteria for this measure remained unclear, as there were no cells intended for such detainees in the facilities. A separate investigation of the matter was launched under the Ombudsman’s initiative (4392/2018). Positive observations The circular sent by the National Police Board to police departments indicates that it is assuming the active role in the supervision of police prisons expected of it. The Police University College has started again to hold guard courses every autumn and senior guard courses at somewhat longer intervals as of 2019.