National Preventive Mechanism Fifth Annual Report 2013–14 appropriate facilities and services for people in detention with mental health problems and/or drug or alcohol dependency; and the setup of specific targets and timelines for reducing the high levels of imprisonment and overcrowding.32 SHRC also ensured that a range of issues relating to conditions of detention were identified under Scotland’s first National Action Plan for Human Rights, published on 10 December 2013.33 Actions to follow up on the implementation of the detention-related aspects of this plan will be pursued with relevant stakeholders during the next business year. use of police custody as a place of safety for people with mental health needs in June 2013. In the report they documented the frequent use of police custody as a place of safety under section 136 of the Mental Health Act, which allows for authorities to take a person believed to be suffering from a mental disorder in a public place to a ‘place of safety’ for assessment. A number of recommendations were made aimed at reducing the number of people with suspected mental health issues, who were often in situations of vulnerability, from being detained in police custody. Joint working between NPM members A closer working relationship between NPM members monitoring police custody in England and Wales developed over the year, with greater liaison between the inspectorate bodies (HMIC and HMI Prisons) and the Independent Custody Visitors (ICVs). This led to ICV coordinators and ICVs being invited to shadow inspectors and a presentation on the work of the joint inspectorate programme at the ICVA conference. Further collaboration is envisaged and is in the early stages of development. Many members have joint working arrangements in their regular inspection programmes that support their NPM functions, and these practices are further strengthened through thematic inspections and memoranda of understanding. Scottish NPM members’ joint working arrangements developed over the year, with the Care Inspectorate joining HMIPS on a review of its inspection of Polmont Young Offenders Institution and the inspection of Greenock prison. The joint inspection of Scotland’s secure estate for young people conducted by the MWCS and the Care Inspectorate was concluded by April 2014. A report on this work, highlighting key themes emerging from the inspection, will be published in the next business year. Four NPM members – HMIC, HMI Prisons, CQC and HIW – researched and published the report A criminal use of police cells? The 32 http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0039/00391828.pdf 33 http://www.scottishhumanrights.com/actionplan 24 CSSIW and HIW worked in partnership to monitor, inspect and improve the operation of the deprivation of liberty safeguards in Wales. In addition to a joint annual monitoring report on the operation of the safeguards, workshops for practitioners and managers were held to identify concerns and themes. This was followed by a national review of the operation of the safeguards, involving inspections in all seven local health boards in Wales, combined with inspections in the relevant local authorities. The report