National Preventive Mechanism Fifth Annual Report 2013–14 At the end of the day, Nick Hardwick (HMI Prisons) and Rachel Murray (HRIC) summarised the themes and challenges that had emerged, and which the NPM must address to ensure it can make progress in fulfilling its OPCAT mandate. These included: • Coherence – the challenge of achieving coherence among 20 different detention monitoring bodies. Members should strive for greater coherence and consistency across NPM work. • NPM mandate – the need to continually review compliance with core areas of the NPM mandate, including coverage of all places of detention, and real and perceived independence in all areas of the NPM’s work. • Members’ responsibilities – implementing OPCAT is both an individual responsibility for designated NPM members, and a collective responsibility, and this is a particular challenge for members whose remit extends beyond detention. • Coordination – the coordination function of the UK NPM is small and limited in resources for a body of such complexity. • Raising awareness – the NPM needs to do more to raise awareness for, understanding of and support for its work under OPCAT, both nationally and internationally. • Preventive monitoring – deepening the understanding of what preventive monitoring is and requires of NPM members, and moving beyond the notion that being part of the NPM is simply a ‘badge of honour’. 44 Looking ahead to year six As this report demonstrates, the NPM’s fifth year has been used to reflect, evaluate and discuss its work to date, both internally and with external stakeholders. As a result, the NPM has agreed that in its sixth year it will: • Build further clarity in planning and reporting processes, to cover both members’ individual actions in taking forward their NPM role, and joint coordinated priorities. • Focus coordinated NPM work on a single thematic priority issue, with a view to developing a consistent approach to monitoring/inspecting the specific issue within the NPM. It will also allow the NPM to raise awareness of practice relating to the issue and relevant human rights implications, and present recommendations for strengthening policy and practice. In 2014–15, the NPM will focus on the issue of solitary confinement, segregation and separation. • Discuss follow-up work on de facto detention (see Fourth Annual Report) among relevant NPM members. • Evaluate compliance with the self‑assessment tool, introducing member‑member or external peer review into the process. • Present plans to strengthen the NPM’s governance and powers to the UK government. • Continue to maintain contact with the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture, seek training and technical assistance where needed, and respond to its letter of November 2013. • Seek to develop an independent NPM website, and subsequently, a social media strategy to engage the NPM’s wider community.