During the visits, the Mechanism’s representatives may record sound, with the consent of individuals who are going to be recorded, as well as hold meetings with persons deprived of their liberty without the presence of other parties and meet individuals who, at their discretion, may provide significant information (Article 13(1)(a) of the Act on the CHR). In all the establishments visited, the NMPT follows the same methodology. The first stage is to establish the composition of the visiting team 4. The visiting team consists of several persons, with one person performing the role of the coordinator who is responsible for drawing up a visit report. Two persons, including the team coordinator, inspect the premises and buildings of the establishment, while others conduct individual conversations with persons deprived of their liberty. External experts participating in visits draw up expert opinions which are incorporated in the visit report. The duration of a specific visit depends on the size of the visited establishment, and lasts 1 to 3 days. Every visit of the NMPT comprises the following stages: • conversation with the establishment’s managers, • inspection of all rooms used by persons deprived of their liberty, • individual and group conversations with detainees, • conversations with the personnel, • analysis of documents and video surveillance footage, • formulation of preliminary post-visit recommendations, • listening to the establishment managers’ opinions on the presented recommendations. If a person deprived of his/her liberty reports an unlawful event during the visit and expresses the desire to have it investigated, he/she has the opportunity to lodge an official complaint. The complaint is then forwarded to the competent team within the CHR Office. Yet, if the person does not consent to addressing the issue officially, the visiting team shall only use the information for the purposes of analysing the operation of mechanisms intended to protect persons deprived of their liberty 4 10 According to OPCAT provisions, experts of the national preventive mechanisms should have the required capabilities and professional knowledge. PART I – what is the NMPT?