28 Feb 2020
On the 28th of February 2020 Police and Crime Commissioner for Dyfed-Powys, Dafydd Llywelyn, met with all his Independent Custody Visitors (ICVs) who have been involved in the Independent Custody Observers Pilot s (ICOP).
Dyfed-Powys is the only Welsh force to have signed up to the ICOP programme. The Pilot is being run by the Independent Custody Visiting Association (ICVA) within 5 Force areas across England and Wales, and aims to further protect the welfare of those identified as vulnerable within police custody, including young people and individuals with mental ill-health.
The first phase of the Pilot commenced on the 2nd September 2019, which allows ICVs to routinely review an independently selected sample of custody records of those who have been identified as being most vulnerable.
The second phase of the Pilot, launched on the 24th of January 2019, is being trialled in the Pembrokeshire area initially and includes some changes to the ICV visits themselves. With consent from the detainees, ICVs are able to observe some of the custody procedures which they previously did not review, such as the booking in and release procedures.
The ICVs answer a range of questions on the custody records and their observations, such as ensuring that individuals have been read their rights and entitlements and that an appropriate adult is called if required. These additional checks provide ICVs the opportunity to look at the entire journey of individuals who are brought into custody, giving them a better insight into the totality of care extended to vulnerable detainees across Dyfed-Powys custody suites.
Police and Crime Commissioner, Dafydd Llywelyn said, “I am proud that we are one of the few areas to be trialling these changes. The additional time and commitment that my ICVs have given to the Scheme is greatly appreciated and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all who are involved in the Pilot.”
Mr John Jones, Independent Custody Visitor said, “Taking part in the pilot has given me a deeper insight into the journey through Custody of detained persons, and I am able to take a more informed and broader view during my ICV visits.
“The pilot has already revealed good practice as well as areas of possible improvement that will require closer scrutiny.
“The Pilot Scheme should provide useful information that will help develop best practice to safeguard the vulnerable in Custody.”
Dr Debra Croft, Independent Custody Visitor said, “It’s been useful to have a wider overview of the whole Custody process and how the snap-shot of detention we see fits in to the bigger picture.
I think it can also flag up some systemic issues which can be addressed force-wide, making the use of custody more efficient and effective, particularly regarding vulnerable / child detainees.”
Since September some of the areas of improvement have been identified include; details being recorded in custody logs require some improvement, meaning that ICVs are unable to accurately assess whether certain procedures are taking place, and whether detained persons are receiving adequate information in relation to their time in custody. Positively, within all the records reviewed since September, ICVs have found that all children in custody were appointed an appropriate adult and all female children were assigned a female member of custody staff.
