Section two The NPM in 2018-19 International scrutiny and collaboration Throughout 2018–19 the UK NPM engaged with two international human rights bodies. The Committee against Torture (CAT) and the Council of Europe Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) have a mandate to assess States parties’ compliance with international law on the prohibition and prevention of torture. The CAT holds periodic review sessions with States parties and the CPT can conduct visits to places of detention. These processes put UK detention practices under an international spotlight, providing important scrutiny in line with international human rights standards. European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment In October 2018, the CPT visited Scotland.107 The delegation went to five prisons and five police stations, assessing the treatment of and conditions for detainees. The Committee also met with NPM representatives during their visit. The NPM enjoys a constructive working relationship with the CPT, and visits are extremely important for the NPM, providing an opportunity to raise our concerns with an international expert body. Further, the CPT’s visits and reports provide both the NPM and government authorities with instructive recommendations on how best to protect the rights of people in detention. Recommendations on the NPM made by organisations contributing to the CAT review: ‘The UK should place the NPM under statutory footing to provide it with formal status and guarantee its independence. The UK should ensure that the bodies under the NPM, including the NPM Secretariat, has sufficient human, material and financial resources to operate independently and effectively, and that its mandate includes military detention facilities overseas.’ REDRESS, Civil Society Alternative Report to UN Committee against Torture ‘The UK Government should: • Ensure that the NPM has access to all places of detention and their installations and facilities, including UKcontrolled places of detention overseas, to regularly examine the treatment of people deprived of their liberty. • Introduce legislation to ensure and safeguard the independence of the NPM and provide sufficient resources to permit the effective implementation of its mandate in line with the requirements of the OPCAT.’ Equality and Human Rights Commission, Submission to the UN Committee against Torture in response to the UK List of Issues 107 Council of Europe Committee for the Prevention of Torture, October 2019, Report to the Government of the United Kingdom on the visit to the United Kingdom carried out by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) from 17 to 25 October 2018, https://rm.coe.int/1680982a3e [accessed 14/01/20] 51