10 Introduction by the Deputy Ombudsman − responsible for executing the competence of the National Preventive Mechanism 2018 marked the fifth year of the Greek NPM’s activities, as operated by the Ombudsman, and it has now been acknowledged – by both the administrations of the detention facilities and the detainees themselves – as an effective external control body monitoring the conditions of detention and the protection of rights of those deprived of their freedom. 2018 was a year of reorganisation and operational capacity improvement, while at the same time it was also a year marked by systematic interventions to protect rights in places of detention: criminal, administrative, psychiatric, welfare. The main plan of the Ombudsman for regular monthly visits throughout all the regions of the country gave the NPM the opportunity to conclude a mapping of the current state of affairs and systemise its findings on the places of detention, while it also strengthened the presence of the Mechanism internationally through involvement in European or regional meetings and peer networks. At the operational level, the NPM completed a first round of visits (initial and/or follow-up) to prisons, detention facilities (police and coast guard detention facilities, Pre-departure centres for foreigners), involuntary hospitalisation facilities and welfare institutions, which allowed the NPM to gain a general overview of matters and to issue recommendations to the competent administrations and make interventions relating to the entire modus operandi of facilities. Furthermore, apart from the regular visits and the collection of data from the reports made by the prisoners to the Ombudsman, the NPM observes the everyday developments taking place in these areas of detention and has instigated a series of contacts with the competent ministries, the administration of detention centres and other civil bodies in order to identify cases, especially in relation to reported deaths or traumas, that could cause the ex officio intervention of the Ombudsman concerning conditions of detention, security measures, staff sufficiency, immediate response to special requests or behaviours and the handling of emergency cases.