The Prevention of Torture Through a National Mechanism observe he parameters for proper action and management accepted by Spain on granted to the its signing of the Convention and the OPCAT. To that end the Ombudsman is Ombudsman meets a basic granted broad powers of investigation, including free access to such places, requirement for NPMs persons and documentation as he/she may consider relevant (Art. 19.2 & 22 of the LODP). This is also a basic requirement for national preventive mechanisms (Art. 20 OPCAT). V. Operational procedure for inspection visits 26. In broad terms the objective of inspections by the NPM is to examine the A preventive approach is general conditions in which persons deprived of their liberty are held, and to taken in inspections which check on how their fundamental rights are guaranteed. This is done via an essentially preventive approach that enables a constructive dialogue to be established with the authorities and other parties involved in deprivation of enables a constructive dialogue to be established with the authorities liberty, with a view to improving their situation and making good any shortcomings observed. The Spanish NPM takes on board the indications of the SPT in its third annual report (2010; § 18): “Whether or not torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment occurs in practice in a given State, there is always a need for States to be vigilant in order to guard against the risk of it occurring and to put in place and maintain effective and comprehensive safeguards to protect persons deprived of their liberty. It is the role of preventive mechanisms to ensure that such safeguards are actually in place and operating effectively and to make recommendations to improve the system of safeguards, both in law and in practice, and thereby the situation of persons deprived of their liberty”. 27. In line with the various authorities and public administrations that may be List of types of places of involved in the deprivation of the liberty of persons in Spain, the NPM takes an interest for inspection visits interest in places of the following types: by the NPM •  Holding   cells and other short-term facilities of the state security forces and of regional and local police forces. •  Holding   cells in courthouses. •  Army,   navy and air-force bases, military training centres. •  Detention   Centres for foreign nationals. •  Military   detention centre. •  Civil   and military prisons. •  Centres   for young offenders. •  Hospitals   and other establishments prepared for the control or compulsory detention of persons for reasons of physical or mental health. •  Special   schools and training centres housing juveniles admitted by their guardians with the authorisation of the courts. THE OMBUDSMAN OF SPAIN 21