People will be able to get a unique insight behind the bars of Staffordshire Police’s busiest custody centre in a special live Twitter event this week.
From around 7pm this Thursday (24 October 2013), Staffordshire’s Independent Custody Visitors (ICVs) will be publishing live updates on their new Twitter account @CustodyVisitors.
The ICVs will be using Twitter to allow people to see what’s happening at that time in the custody suite from their perspective and photographs will also be uploaded to help explain what’s going on.
ICVs are appointed by the Police and Crime Commissioner to check on the wellbeing of people held in custody by Staffordshire Police. The 45 volunteers make regular, unannounced visits to custody sites throughout the year.
Between 1 April 2012 and 31 March 2013, 25,099 people were detained by Staffordshire Police, and of those, 1,095 were present during ICV visits.
Such visits provide an independent check on detained persons, the way police officers carry out their duties with regard to detainees and seek to secure greater public understanding and confidence in such matters
PCC Matthew Ellis said: “Independent Custody Volunteers are central to ensuring an open and transparent police service.”
Deputy PCC Sue Arnold, who oversees the volunteer work, added: “Volunteers play a huge part in society and in local communities.
“The roles of Independent Custody Visitors are crucial – not just to the people in custody, but also in promoting public confidence in the system which is essential to making Staffordshire safer.
“In Staffordshire, we’ve made their work easier by giving them direct access to electronic custody records – which has also freed up hundreds of hours of police time”
ICVs work to a strict code of conduct and are fully trained before they embark on their special duties.
They work in pairs and can check police cells – where they are granted access to detainees – at any time of the day or night to make sure custody rules are being observed.
Anyone interested in joining, or finding out more, should call Jane Milgate on 01785 232245 or visit the PCC website at www.staffordshire-pcc.gov.uk.
