documents, data or archives. The Greek Ombudsman may make recommendations and proposals but cannot impose sanctions or annul any illegal actions. Funding and capacity Just one year after its creation, in 2015, the NPM made eleven visits to pre-removal detention facilities, police stations and reception centres (The Greek Ombudsman, 2015). However, it was not until 2017 that state funds were allocated to the NPM for the first time, allowing it to conduct more inspections and employ and train inspectors.93 The NPM remains small, with only fifteen members of staff. Moreover, the staff continue to bear responsibility for additional tasks as part of the Ombudsman office. Thus, as well as their monitoring duties under OPCAT, NPM staff are also responsible for receiving and responding to complaints, as part of the Ombudsman’s general mandate, monitoring of procedures for the removal of third-country nationals (art.23, §6 L. 3907/11 and Joint Ministerial Decree 4000/4/57 − ia/24-10-2014),94 and investigating the arbitrary behaviour of law enforcement officials (Law 4443/2016, Part D, entry into force 9.6.2017).95 In practical terms, this arrangement means that one staff member is responsible for over 100 citizens’ complaints and around 40 files concerning complaints against law enforcement officials per year on top of monitoring visits. The latter must be resolved within a strict deadline, according to the law, which means they receive priority over preventive inspections. The different roles that NPM staff have assumed means that they also visit detention centres in different capacities. This, NPM staff claimed, assists them in developing a rounded idea of detention centres and the treatment detainees are afforded. Thus, as part of the general Ombudsman mandate, staff receive complaints from foreign nationals, mainly though NGOs, relating to conditions in detention, asylum claims, etc. As has been It should be noted that funding is provided on an annual basis and only after the submission of a request by the Ombudsman. As a consequence, funding is normally made available sometime in the course of the fiscal year (i.e., not from January 1st). As a result, the strategic planning and priority-setting of the Mechanism, although designed for a period of 3 years since 2017, can only be confirmed on an annual basis, as it depends on the availability of the financial resources requested. 94 Article 23, paragraph 6 foresees that removal procedures are subjected to monitoring by the Ombudsman. The Joint Ministerial Decision further provides for the establishment of a system of external monitoring of removal procedures. 95 Part D of Law 4443/2016 foresees the establishment of the ‘National Mechanism for the investigation of arbitrary behaviour’ with responsibility to collect, record, assess, investigate or refer for further investigation and disciplinary control, complaints about actions of police officers, the Hellenic Coast Guard, the Fire Brigade and Staff of State Penitentiaries, occurring in the performance of their duties, or abuse of their status (Law 4443/2016) 93 143