Part II: Tools for an effective follow-up and implementation establishment of a two-step procedure will require reflections on its purpose and execution, including the internal reporting methodology. œœ Surveys assessing the scope of a problem It is common among NPMs to request additional information after a visit, mostly in order to draft the report and recommendations. Some NPMs have furthermore used targeted thematic surveys among the detainee population to receive additional information about certain issues. For example the HMIP in the UK a detainee survey is a fundamental part of an inspection. Typically visits undertaken by the HMIP take two weeks. The first week involves the completion of the ‘Inspectorate survey’. Members of the research team conduct a survey of a representative proportion of the detainee population, which is a key source of evidence, gathering detainee perceptions. Participants are chosen at random across all wings/units of the establishment. The survey is confidential and anonymous. Researchers talk to each selected detainee to explain the purpose of the survey, and go back to each cell to collect the survey later that day or the following morning. Distribution and collection of the survey takes up to two days.150 The results of the survey are not only helpful in making comparisons between detainee responses from the inspected establishment and the collective responses from detainees held in similar establishments, but also as part of a follow-up procedure to monitor current responses and those gathered at the last inspection, alongside a breakdown of responses by protected characteristics.151 The surveys are regarded as an essential part of ‘the triangulated evidence base for inspection and provide a robust and representative ‘customer’ view of the treatment and conditions in custodial establishments.152 The questions that form part of the survey are based on published inspection criteria known as ‘Expectations’.153 The Austrian NPM uses surveys among the authorities as part of its follow-up process: After the identification of re-occurring problems in detention, it starts an in-depth inquiry on the systemic dimension of the problem, collecting information from its own NPM reports and requesting the authorities to provide detailed information and data. This information has been vital in order to jointly develop step-by-step plans for the implementation of recommendations. œœ Thematic reports and circulars to increase the awareness of systemic issues The written dialogue beyond the communication of the visiting report may not only help the NPM but also the authorities to receive additional information. A few NPMs use additional ways to inform the authorities about specific issues, e.g. through thematic reports and recommendations that create a good basis for a targeted dialogue on specific issues. In Bulgaria, for example, thematic reports have been used as a tool to react to emerging problems, such as to focus on the worsening situation of Syrian refugees in Bulgaria and children held in closed institutions. In these instances, issuing thematic reports was considered to contribute to achieving better impact and to enable the NPM to reach a wider audience as it provided a way to explain clearly the issues involved to the media and general public. The Swedish NPM has also prepared a special analysis on substance abuse and presented the findings to the responsible authority. The NPM can also hand over specific thematic issues that arises at an institution to other specialised monitoring bodies. For instance, following questions surrounding inter alia the handing out of medication to persons in an arrest facility in Stockholm visited by the Swedish NPM, it included the Swedish Health and Social Care Inspectorate in the list of recipients of the report. The inspectorate then conducted a follow-up inspection to the facility some months later. It emphasised that the approach constituted a good basis for dialogue as well as for developing future plans. UK, HMIP, Inspection Framework (2014) paras 3.11-14. Ibid para 3.12. 152 Ibid para 3.14. 153 Ibid paras 2.21- 25 and 3.14. 150 151 - 53 -