People were given a unique insight behind the bars of Staffordshire Police’s busiest custody centre in a special live Twitter event last night.
From around 7pm yesterday (24 October 2013), Staffordshire’s Independent Custody Visitors (ICVs) published over 20 live updates on their new Twitter account @CustodyVisitors.
The ICVs used Twitter to allow people to see what was happening at the time in the custody suite from their perspective.
Updates explained how the ICVs checked on the welfare and safety of eight detainees, including making sure a deaf man had been communicated with properly by the custody staff.
Another detainee was concerned about his pets being at home without food, which the ICVs raised with the custody sergeant.
The interview room, exercise yard, shower room and bedding store were also inspected, to make sure everything which should be there was present and in date.
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.
