As noted, Kuressaare police building was closed down and a new modern police department with detention cells was opened there at the end of 2012. This should have eliminated at least some of the shortcomings in living conditions (e.g. absence of an exercise yard or absence of a window or toilet in cells). In Pärnu detention chamber, repairs to cells and common rooms have been made as and when funds were available (detainees’ shower room, kitchen and ventilation system have been fully renovated). 1.2. Shortage of staff PART II Modernising the living conditions in detention facilities requires significant resources from the state and, therefore, the overall economic situation should also be taken into account. In conclusion of his inspection visits, the Chancellor recommended to keep persons in cells with inadequate living conditions only for as short a time as possible. PART III In addition to Pärnu and Kuressaare detention chambers, there is room for improvement in living conditions also in Paide and Rapla detention chambers although the overall picture in terms of guarantee of fundamental rights of detainees in the latter establishments is definitely better. It should also be taken into account that in Paide and Rapla chambers detainees are kept only for relatively short periods. PART I CHANCELLOR OF JUSTICE AS NATIONAL PREVENTIVE MECHANISM Another problem concerning several inspected police facilities was shortage of staff due to which it is not possible to ensure the detainees all (or the full extent of) the rights provided for by the legislation. For example, the Chancellor found that at weekends detainees in Rapla and Paide detention chambers could not stay in the open air for the required period of time. To improve the situation, the Chancellor proposed to the PBGB to find possibilities in police facilities to ensure the rights of detainees either by hiring additional staff or by changing the work arrangements. Director General of the PBGB in his reply to the Chancellor explained that, for example, in Pärnu detention chamber there are currently three staff vacancies, and already three competitions have been organised to find a police officer for the detention centre, but all of them without result. The number of staff positions in Rapla and Paide detention chambers of the West Prefecture, and more widely also in other detention chambers, depends first and foremost on the personnel budget. During the previous periods, proper operation of the detention chambers has also been significantly hindered by problems (i.e. failed competitions) of finding new staff to replace officers who have left work. Work in a police detention centre is not attractive due to its nature: closed room, possible infections, attacks, low wages, etc. The Director General explained that 1.4 million euros of the additional wage fund intended for the implementation of the new wage system in 2013 would be used for revising the wages of public servants. In total, this would affect approximately 700 persons, i.e. about half of the staff of the Police and Border Guard Board, including some staff categories (those who are public servants) at police detention centres. Therefore, the Director General hopes that the next competitions to fill the staff vacancies would be successful. Among the immediate measures the Director General mentioned that in order to alleviate risks the field officer on duty is required to check regularly the situation in cells (if necessary, involving a police patrol), and the nearest patrol would respond to any incidents in cells. 7