allowed to have some personal belongings with them including the means to study and/or do some writing. ■ T  he ‘time out’ rooms at the youth justice residence are identical to Secure Care rooms and should be identified as such. These rooms must not be used as overflow due to shortage of beds. To the police ■ T  hough it is only intended for short stays, the physical environment in the custody suite at Wellington police meant that it was not fit for purpose, and should be decommissioned as soon as possible. Until that time, cell walls should be cleared of graffiti, ventilation and temperature control improved, and internal practice changes put in place as per the recommendations below, to ensure that minimum standards are met for all detainees. ■ D  etainees should be offered, as a minimum, a shower and an opportunity to get one hour of fresh air and exercise each day, and an opportunity to make a personal telephone call. Detainees should also be offered reading and writing materials, appropriate to their needs and abilities. ■ D  etainees should be provided with a sufficient quantity of clean bedding, including a sufficient number of blankets to keep them warm. Where necessary, these can be tear-proof. ■ T  he number of people with mental health issues amongst those subjected to the application of restraints and the apparent prevalence of the use of restraints with people of ethnic minority groups need to be looked into in more detail as a matter of urgency. ■ R  estraint chairs are inherently degrading and their use could be considered to breach the prohibition against cruel and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Their use should be abolished and alternative, less restrictive methods used. ■ T  he use of force and the application of restraint should be proportionate to the risk or threat posed, and reserved as a last resort. If, as we were told, the use of more restrictive forms of restraint is symptomatic of difficulties dealing with detainees in crisis who require urgent psychiatric assistance, but this is not available, then the systemic reasons for this need to be urgently addressed by the relevant authorities. As a general rule, police cells are inappropriate 63