21 Mar 2022
Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn has confirmed that his Independent Custody Visiting Scheme will be leading on an Anti-Harm Suit pilot scheme between Dyfed-Powys Police and the Independent Custody Visiting Association (ICVA).
Anti-rip clothing or anti harm suits are clothing that are used in many custody suites across the UK. The material of the clothing is made to prevent detainees being able to rip the material and make ligatures.
The Pilot will see ICVs independently reviewing the custody records of individuals within Dyfed-Powys custody suites who have been issued with an anti-harm suit, looking particularly at whether the suits are being issued appropriately or not, are being removed as soon as possible, and that sufficient rationale for their use has been recorded within individuals Custody logs.
This Pilot has come about following a thematic review of the use of anti-harm clothing in police custody by ICVA.
ICVA found that Inspectorate reports reveal consistent concerns with the use of anti-harm clothing in custody, some of the concerns found nationally include;
- Poor recording and practice in terms of both proportionality and justification of the use of the suits,
- The suits are recorded as being used in the absence of risk information, often with difficult detainees, by force, and have been noted as being potentially punitive,
- Concerns regarding detainee dignity being effectively maintained during clothing removal by force
- Detainees have been left naked in an endeavour to manage harming behaviours, in suites both where the clothing is used, and those where it is not.
ICVA produced a lengthy report covering the review, incorporating pro bono legal advice being received from Stephen Knight which concludes that the suits are currently overused and should either not be used at all or used only in very exceptional circumstances with effective reporting in the custody records.
Sherry Ralph, Chief Operating Officer from ICVA who has been leading on this work said:
‘The removal of a person’s clothing is an extreme measure to ensure their safety whilst in custody which can have a serious impact for detainees and staff. I am delighted that Dyfed Powys Police and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner are working with ICVA to ensure that where this measure is used, it is done so proportionately, with full justifications and only in circumstances where all other options have been exhausted. The maintenance of detainee dignity during their time in custody is a key driver for all of those involved in the pilot, and we look forward to sharing the findings with other PCC’s’.
Chief Inspector Steve Thomas of Dyfed-Powys Police, who Chairs the National Police Chiefs Council risk subgroup said: “We welcome the opportunity to be part of this pilot scheme. We have already undertaken steps to improve the recording and use of anti-harm suits within our Custody suits. Improvements have been made to the custody IT system to ensure that sufficient rationale is recorded for the use of each suit and we have also delivered refresher training on the issuing of suits to custody staff.
We look forward to working on the pilot scheme. Our transparent approach and scrutiny of this area will help drive improvements within custody suites, both here in Dyfed-Powys, and nationally within all Forces.”
Police and Crime Commissioner, Dafydd Llywelyn said: “I am very pleased that our Scheme is back reviewing custody records following a break due to Covid-19. I am also very glad that my scheme has been approached to lead on this Pilot looking at the use of anti-rip suits.
“Custody record reviewing will allow ICVs to consider the entire journey through custody of some our most vulnerable detainees. This will help us to build a better understanding of any current and local issues.”
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Further information:
Notes
If you would like further information on the Pilot, would like to speak to Caryl Bond who co-ordinated the Independent Custody Visiting Scheme, or indeed one of the Independent Custody Visitors, please email opcc@dyfed-powys.pnn.police.uk or telephone 01267 226440.
For further information on the Independent Custody Visiting Scheme, visit our website: http://www.dyfedpowys-pcc.org.uk/en/the-office/volunteer-schemes/independent-custody-visitors/
For further information on ICVA, visit: https://icva.org.uk/ or email your query to info@icva.org.uk
