always be directly supervised (direct supervision by an officer). According to the prison governor, the security area was to be completely modernised in the summer of 2012 and the old metal fixation devices replaced by a bandage system. Reaction: With the exception of Fuhlsbüttel prison, the specially-secured cells (with fixation beds) had been equipped with belt systems in all Hamburg’s prisons. It was possible to use bandage fixation equipment at any time, although additional metal cuffs and leather belts were available in a small number of areas for initial deployment in addition to the belt system. When the new security wing was opened in Fuhlsbüttel prison – planned for the autumn of 2012 – the belt system would be introduced there too. Nonetheless, the use of metal binding instruments would not be done away with altogether, but metal cuffs would remain available for initial deployment so that binding could be carried out as quickly as possible, depending on the individual’s state of excitement. Re-cuffing would take place as soon as possible in each case, that is the metal cuffs would be removed immediately as soon as the belt system had been applied. It is known that it is necessary to change the clothes of an inmate who needs to be fixed in order to rule out them having items on their person with which they could injure themselves or others. The Commission is however unable to comprehend that only a kind of loin protection is applied to the fixed person as clothing. Such handling may be necessary in exceptional cases, but in the conviction of the Commission should not be practiced as a matter of routine. The Commission is convinced that this procedure is indecent and undignified and should hence be discontinued promptly. It would be preferable to examine in each case whether a complete or partial change of clothes is possible into suitable clothing that is provided separately for this purpose. In order to respect the sense of shame, it is necessary to accept the slight delay which such a change of clothes may entail. Reaction: The nature of the implementation of binding had been discussed intensively, particular attention having been paid to the privacy of the person concerned, both within the Hamburg prison system and in the committee of Hamburg Parliament that was responsible for this. Where binding was needed, there was always an exceptional situation. For clarification: In 2012 to the present-day, with a total prison population of roughly 1,700 a total of three inmates had been cuffed in three different prisons. The duration had been between 20 minutes and two hours and 25 minutes. A total of six inmates had had to be cuffed in three out of six prisons in 2011. The duration of the fixation had been between one hour and 10 minutes and a maximum of three hours and 45 minutes. The safety interests both of the person concerned and of the officers, and the sense of shame, had to be equally considered. Undressing the person concerned was considered indispensable in such cases for security reasons. It had to be effectively ruled out that inmates, who as a rule were 45