National Preventive Mechanism publishes Annual Report into State of UK Detention: Progress made

The NPM is made up of 18 independent bodies and co-ordinated by HM Inspectorate of Prisons. It was established in 2009 by the UK government to meet its UN treaty obligations regarding the treatment of anyone held in any form of custody. The NPM should have the right to regularly inspect all places of detention for the purpose of monitoring the treatment and conditions of detainees, with the clear purpose of preventing ill treatment of anyone deprived of their liberty. This report summarises the activities of those members. View report.

Our last report recommended that the government should identify which places of detention are not subject to independent visits by the NPM and ensure that those gaps in protection are addressed. This recommendation was accepted. In future court cells in England and Wales will be subject to inspection by HMI Prisons and discussions are underway regarding the inspection of service custody facilities, (known as guardhouses), operated by the British military. As this report was being prepared for publication we were pleased to learn that custody visitors in Scotland were being placed on a statutory footing.

 

The following year will see the NPM members continue to share their expertise and experience of visiting places of detention and explore issues, such as the use of restraint, which arise across different types of detention.