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INDEPENDENT CUSTODY VISITINGBackgroundFollowing the Brixton disorders of 1981 Independent Custody Visiting (formerly Lay Visiting) schemes were established on a voluntary basis in different parts of the country to bring the community and police closer together. Within Lincolnshire, the old Police Committee established its first custody visiting panel within the City of Lincoln in January 1988. By the beginning of 1989, further panels were operating within the towns of Boston, Grantham, Skegness and Gainsborough. More recently, Section 51 of the Police Reform Act 2002 placed Custody Visiting on a statutory footing. The Secretary of State has issued a statutory code of practice as to how Police Authorities and custody visitors should carry out their functions. Who are Independent Custody Visitors ?Independent Custody Visitors (ICVs) are volunteers drawn from the local community who visit designated police stations unannounced to check on the welfare of people in custody and the conditions in which they are being held. They come from a variety of backgrounds and sections of the community. They must be over 18 and have no direct involvement in the criminal justice system, for example, serving police officers or special constables. Other people such as solicitors or probation officers may be excluded, to prevent possible conflict of interests for the individual. This maintains the independence of the scheme as a whole. How are Independent Custody Visitors selected and trained ?Volunteers wishing to become ICVs will need to complete an application form, which will be considered by an ICV appointments panel. Then they will be asked to attend an interview. ICVs need to have a sound knowledge and thorough understanding of detainees rights and responsibilities. Successful applicants will attend an induction course organised by the Police Authority in partnership with the Independent Custody Visiting Association (ICVA). The training programme is made up of practical and theoretical exercises covering all aspects of custody visiting and is complemented by a scheme document and the basic principles of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE). All volunteers are issued with an official identity card which they must use when visiting. Further refresher training sessions are arranged throughout the year to keep ICVs informed on new developments and to share experiences. Newly appointed ICVs complete a probationary period, before being appointed for a period of 4 years, which may be renewable. When and where are visits made ?ICVs will normally carry out their visits in pairs and make approximately 2 visits per month (this will vary according to sickness, holiday and personal commitments) to police stations within their appointed area. The actual timing of visits is entirely a matter for ICVs, but should be random and unannounced. Some late night visits will also be required. Four Custody Visiting Panels have been established for police stations in each of the areas covered by the scheme, namely:
What happens when Independent Custody Visitors make a visit ?ICVs must maintain their independence and impartiality. They do not take sides but look, listen and report on what they find in the custody unit. On arrival at the police station, ICVs are escorted to the custody area. Detainees are identified by their custody number and strict rules of confidentiality apply. ICVs may occasionally be denied immediate access to the custody unit for safety reasons and be asked to wait. Interviews with detainees are, for ICV’s protection, normally carried out within sight, but out of hearing of the escorting officer. ICVs must treat as confidential the details of what they see and hear on their visit. Reporting proceduresA report is completed after each visit. It provides an insight into the running of the custody area at the time of the visit. Copies of the reports are provided to the Force, Police Authority and ICV. They provide a vital source of information on the environmental and welfare conditions in which detainees are held. The information is analysed and the areas for action are highlighted. ExpensesAlthough no payment will be made in respect of these visiting duties, a travel allowance is payable. Interested?We are not currently recruiting Custody Visitors. However if you would like to complete an application form, it will be considered during our next round of recruitment in March / April 2007. Please write to: Lincolnshire Police Authority, Deepdale Lane, Nettleham, Lincoln, LN2 2LT Telephone (01522) 558022 or e-mail police.authority@lincs.pnn.police.uk Related Pages
Lincolnshire Custody Visiting Scheme
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