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National Preventive Mechanism (NPM)

RQIA is responsible for the oversight of health and social care in Northern Ireland’s prisons, children’s secure accommodation and mental health and learning disabled facilities.

Given this role, RQIA is one of four organisations in Northern Ireland designated as a national preventive mechanism (or NPM) by the UK government to ensure the protection of the rights of all those in places of detention.  You can find out more about the NPM in the video below:

NPM Annual Reports and Joint Inspections of Secure Settings