VISITS BY THE JOINT COMMISSION the initiative and cross cultural boundaries to do sports and play games together. During the visit the head of the facility explained that experience had shown that regular events at fixed times are unrealistic for various reasons (fluctuation, new admissions, returns, entries, doctor’s surgery hours, lack of occupants’ reliability etc.). The activities on offer take place as and when required and this generally works well, the head of the facility told the Joint Commission. Naturally, the extent of the activities provided is also always dependent on the mindset and interests of the refugees being accommodated in the Centre at any given time. The church-run refugee support service is well aware of all these factors. Clearly, failing any other aspects it can criticise, it has for several years been calling on the Land social service to offer regular, at best daily, supervised leisure activities, although it does not itself organise any leisure activities at all during those times when it is responsible for supervising the asylum seekers. Rather, it tends to spend its time analysing the Federal Office for Migration and Refugee’s decisions. “Actively encouraging” asylum seekers to take part in leisure activities, one of the refugee support service’s demands, would be tantamount to taking on the role of tour operator and surely does not fall within the remit of a reception centre for asylum seekers. In view of the task assigned to the National Agency, i.e. the prevention of torture, the refugee support group’s demand appears almost cynical. It must therefore be reminded of the realities of those people who are being accommodated in the Reception Centre: In view of the everyday situation of those seeking refuge and their average stay of nine days, one can hardly speak of their being kept in “mere safe-keeping”. Within this short period of time refugees have to undergo several formalities plus two hearings with other authorities. The question thus arises of why, against the backdrop of this relatively short stay, such great importance is attached in the National Agency’s report to leisure activities. The Joint Commission thereupon repeated its finding that the Reception Centre provided a good range of leisure-time activities. It added that during its visits to pre-deportation detention facilities it had found that supervised activities contributed to improving the atmosphere in the facility. It again suggested examining whether the facility could offer more supervised activities at fixed times each week in order to counter the frequent observation that those accommodated in the facility withdraw internally. Positive findings The Reception Centre is clean, light and has modern furnishings. Detainees have access to two common rooms with TVs on which they can watch numerous foreign TV channels. In addition, there are two telephones which can be used for both incoming and outgoing calls. Further, there is a modern courtyard with a play area and a tartan field with a football pitch, as well as seating and green spaces. Detainees are free to move around the facility all day and night and can go out into the courtyard at any time. The Joint Commission welcomes the fact that women and men are accommodated in separate rooms but not in separate areas. Social workers provide psycho-social support each day between 7 am and 9 pm; an on-call service is also available. Detainees can also contact a church social service between 9 am and 5 pm on Mondays to Fridays with any questions they may have. A doctor holds surgery twice a week. 70