11 Working method and organisation Holistic approach to prevention The NPM believes that effective prevention work requires a holistic approach. The risk of torture and ill-treatment can be affected by many different factors, including national and international legislation, the organisation of institutions, management and institutional culture, control and supervisory bodies and their practices, the general attitudes of society, social inequality, the level of knowledge and financial resources. They all have consequences for the work of the NPM. Regular visits to places where people are deprived of their liberty are a key element of the NPM's work, but other work methods are also emphasised. The NPM maintains a continuous dialogue with the public administration and official bodies at different levels, as well as supervisory authorities and civil society. It also cooperates and exchanges experience with many international human rights bodies. Information work is also given priority in order to give the public greater insight into the conditions for those deprived of their liberty and to provide information about findings and recommendations. This is described in more detail in this annual report in the sections on national dialogue (page 59) and international cooperation (page 65). Announcement of visits The NPM can make both announced and unannounced visits. In 2016, the NPM has discontinued the practice of announcing the date of a visit. Before most of the visits in 2016, the places were notified that a visit would take place within a period of two to three months and they were asked to provide specific information. The dates of the visits were not announced.¹ This work method makes it possible for the NPM to obtain relevant information before a visit, while also enabling it to gain a realistic impression of the conditions at the place of detention. Execution of visits The planning of each visit starts by obtaining information from a number of sources. This includes reports and information from relevant supervisory authorities and other sources. A letter is then sent to the management of the place to be visited, with the information that a visit will take place within a specified period and with a request for specific information to be sent prior to the visit or that this information is made available during the visit. The duration of the visits depend primarily on the size of the place visited. In 2016, the NPM made visits lasting from one to four days. — The NPM can make both announced and unannounced visits. — 1 The visit to Bergen police custody facility was conducted without any form of prior notice. The method described above was used for the other ten visits conducted in 2016.