National Preventive Mechanism publishes Annual Report

Date: 7th March 2017
Category: UNCRC Optional Protocols and General Comments

The UK's National Preventive Mechanism (NPM), established under the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT), has published its 2015-16 Annual Report.

The NPM is responsible for the independent monitoring of all places of detention throughout the UK. It comprises the 20 bodies which have powers to enter places of detention for the purpose of providing oversight and scrutiny of the treatment of detainees and the conditions in which they are held. Such scrutiny is designed both to prevent harm occurring to people in detention and to encourage good practice in the care of detainees.

In Scotland, the individual bodies making up the NPM are:

  • Scotland Care Inspectorate (CI)
  • Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS)
  • Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland (HMIPS)
  • Independent Custody Visitors Scotland (ICVS)
  • Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland (MWCS)
  • Scottish Human Rights Commission (SHRC)

The bodies which make up the UK NPM monitor different types of detention across the jurisdictions, including prisons, police custody, court custody, customs custody facilities, secure accommodation for children, immigration facilities, mental health and military detention.