There are special rules governing visits by children under the age of 14. Such visits are also to be conducted as table visits. However, a separate room with free-standing tables is to be provided for visits by children in police detention centres. Close physical contact with children should also be permitted (e.g. placing the child on the lap). The visitors and the belongings they bring with them must be inspected for both, table and security visits. If necessary, an inspection of the visitors and/or the visited detainee can be conducted after the visit. Video surveillance of the visits is permissible. Visiting rules During security visits, detained persons are separated from visitors by a room-height glass wall. They communicate via an intercom system. In the future, security visits are contemplated for prisoners in court custody and for other prisoners under certain conditions (e.g. reasons of health or hygiene). In addition, security visits are contemplated when there are specific security concerns, if and as long as they militate against permitting table visits. Security visits Currently, Section 21 of the Code of Conduct for Detention (Anhalteordnung) provides that every prisoner can receive visits once a week for a period of half an hour during the visiting hours established by the authorities. Endeavours should be made to increase the frequency and duration of visiting opportunities for persons in detention pending forced return in the interests of maintaining familial and other personal bonds. The working group agreed that every prisoner may receive a half hour visit at least twice a week in the future. Visits must also be possible on Saturday or Sunday. Of course, these standards are to be regarded as minimum standards. Therefore, every police detention centre is free to be more generous with the duration and frequency of visits. At least two visits per week The former Human Rights Advisory Board at the Federal Ministry of the Interior has already criticised the inadequate occupation and leisure opportunities for persons detained in police detention centres. Nevertheless, numerous attempts to permanently improve the situation for detainees have failed. During its visit to Austria in autumn 2014, the CPT reiterated its recommendation that (in exceptional situations) persons being detained in closed detention pending forced return should be offered more activities outside of the inmate cell. Occupation and leisure situation The NPM has also complained for years that persons being detained pending forced return and prisoners serving an administrative penalty are unlikely to spend their time in custody in a meaningful way. The NPM specifically and repeatedly criticised that leisure and sports equipment (e.g. exercise bikes, table football tables, table tennis tables) were lacking or were not repaired. In many police detention centres there is a need for more reading materials, particularly for foreign-language newspapers, magazines and books. Board games are also not always available. In most police detention centres, there is only a poorly stocked library, televisions in the social rooms and bleak walking courts. The NPM hopes that the working group can finally bring about a solution to this important matter. As of the editorial deadline for this report, some key points had merely been agreed 123