Visits to places of detention Focus areas During visits to places of detention, the NPM investigates the conditions for and treatment of persons deprived of their liberty from an overall perspective. The NPM focuses particularly on areas generally associated with the ­greatest risk of gross violations of personal integrity rights. The selection of these focus areas is based on the CPT’s reports from visits to places of detention in Norway, reports by the UN Committee against Torture, the Parliamentary Ombudsman’s visits to places of detention, information from the NPM advisory committee and civil society stakeholders, supervisory reports and other sources. Although the focus areas varied according to sector and place of detention, there were some recurring focus areas during the visits conducted in 2014. • Use of force, incidents and control measures The degree of deprivation of liberty and use of force presents a risk of violations in itself. However, this risk can be reduced by issuing legal regulations and official instructions. During its visits, the NPM investigates a place’s compliance with applicable regulations, the threshold for the use of force/coercive measures, internal training, supervision, recordkeeping and notification of health personnel. It also examines the violence and threat profile, and gives close consideration to conflict-handling procedures. The NPM also assesses systems for reporting and registering u ­ ndesirable incidents. • Health services Providing persons deprived of their liberty with effective health services is a necessary part of ensuring that they are treated in a dignified and humane manner. The NPM investigates the health services offered to persons deprived of their liberty, including access to health services, equivalence of care, patient consent and confidentiality, preventive health care, assistance for particularly vulnerable groups, and professional independence and competence. The NPM has concentrated particularly on patient safety, health assessments as part of admissions procedures, identification of vulnerable inmates, suicide-prevention and the follow-up of persons with psychiatric disorders. The NPM has also met with health workers separately and reviewed health conditions and practices in detail. and staffing situation. Cuts to staffing levels may constitute a risk factor. For example, the staffing situation can have a decisive impact on a range of important areas, including activities, security, professional standards, staff motivation and relations between staff and the persons deprived of their liberty. • The initial phase Generally speaking, persons are especially vulnerable during the initial phase of deprivation of liberty. The NPM gives particular consideration to admissions procedures, how persons deprived of their liberty are cared for during this period and what measures are implemented. This evaluation also encompasses what information is communicated to persons deprived of their liberty, how long it takes for such information to be given and what other follow-up and supervision persons deprived of their liberty receive during the initial phase. • Vulnerable groups The NPM concentrates especially on the conditions faced by vulnerable groups such as women, foreign nationals, isolated persons, minors and young adults, lesbians, gays, bisexuals and trans persons, members of minority groups, persons with disabilities and persons in poor health. • Activity programmes and measures to counteract the effects of isolation Measures to counteract the harmful effects of isolation are crucial in all sectors, and are an area to which the NPM devotes particular attention. In prisons, the NPM examines measures to counteract injuries resulting from full or partial isolation. Among other things, the NPM examines the procedures for offering activities, outdoor exercise and the extent to which “lockdowns” are employed (i.e. the locking down of all or parts of the prison at times when cells are normally supposed to be unlocked). During visits to custody facilities, the NPM reviews particularly the measures implemented to counteract the negative consequences of stays in police custody. • Human relations During visits, the NPM examines the local environment for persons deprived of their liberty and staff. Human relations are a fundamental protection against violations. All visits therefore focus on the perceived relations at the place of detention, both among the persons deprived of their liberty and between the persons deprived of their liberty and staff. This also entails the NPM taking a closer look at the working environment Norway’s National Preventive Mechanism – Annual Report 2014 21