general observations in connection with inspections 28 Reducing isolation The report states that the placement situation in the country’s remand prisons is strained, which, according to the Prison and Probation Service, means that it is difficult to provide placements where detainees are given an opportunity to spend time with others. It is important to counteract the negative consequences that long-term isolation can cause. This may involve the detainee being allowed to spend time with another detainee by socialising, receiving visits or taking part in activities together with prison service staff. As some detainees choose to isolate themselves voluntarily, the Parliamentary Ombudsmen has emphasised that the Prison and Probation Service establish measures to reduce isolation, for these detainees. In order to be able to monitor the measures taken, it is important that the occasions where the detainee receives offers to take part in activates but declines, are put on record. If this occurs, the authority is obliged to follow-up on the reason and motivate the detainee to take part in activities. It is unacceptable just to allow an inmate to choose not to take part in activities, particularly in the case of a young person.18 Following the inspections of the remand prisons in 2017, the Prison and Probation Service was asked to review the procedures for reporting and documenting detainees time in common facilities, and what measures were taken to reduce isolation in relation to detainees not given such an opportunity. In June 2018, the Prison and Probation Service reported back on this work, to the Parliamentary Ombudsmen. The report states that the placement situation in the country’s remand prisons is strained which means, according to the authority, that it is difficult to provide placements that offer a possibility to be outside, for remand detainee areas. Following the inspections in 2017, more than 160 new placements with a possibility to spend time in common facilities have been added. Regarding the attempt to reduce isolation, the Prison and Probation Service has commenced work on developing an uniform and suitable plan that supports local measures to reduce isolation and provide correct data, at a national level. The Parliamentary Ombudsmen will return to what the Prison and Probation Service has reported, in a later decision. Temporary remand prisons Sometimes it is the case that the Prison and Probation Service sets up temporary remand prisons. During 2015–2017, there were two such prisons at police custody facilities, in Halmstad and Östersund. Regarding the prisons in Östersund, the Parliamentary Ombudsmen stated, in 2013, that the remand premises were unsuitable and that the Prison and Probation Service should seriously consider the appropriateness of continuing to place individuals on remand in the premises.19 At a follow-up inspection in 2016, it was discovered that there had been no real change in the design of the facility, and that areas where detainees can spend time outside were still missing, also, visitors 18 The Parliamentary Ombudsmen’s decision of 14 June 2018, ref. no. 5969-2015. 19 Ref. no. 6386-2013.