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Independent Custody Visitors (ICVs) regularly travel to the custody suites in Swindon and Melksham, where their role is to check that staff are treating detainees fairly and with respect, and that the facilities are well maintained.
They got together at a specially convened training event for new ICVs at Police Headquarters in Devizes, where existing ICVs had the chance to meet their new colleagues and undertake refresher training.
The Police and Crime Commissioner opened the session by thanking them for their work and highlighted the importance of their contribution to keeping Wiltshire safe.
As part of their role, volunteers are given guidance to help them understand the demands and requirements placed on officers in this testing area of policing, but they don’t need to be experts in police practice.
Mr Wilkinson said:
“Whilst a lot of this work goes unseen by the public, the work of our Independent Custody Visitors is vital in the underlying principal of detainees being treated fairly and with respect.
“By giving approved members of the local community an opportunity to observe, comment and report on these matters, I hope to reassure the community, improve citizens' understanding of procedures at police stations and strengthen their confidence that these are being properly applied.
“Through this scheme, I can ensure the police force has the right facilities to provide an effective service - which is a main priority in my police and crime plan”
Each custody suite is scrutinised by a team of ICV’s, who work in pairs when visiting, and are required to visit custody several times a year.
Whilst the ICV team for Melksham is fully subscribed, recruitment is ongoing for more people to join the Swindon team.
Katherine Eddie is the scheme manager:
“Our team has been nationally recognised through the Independent Custody Visiting Association’s Quality Assurance Framework, and with our existing volunteers passing on their experience to our new members, we will continue to conduct our independent custody visits to those high standards.
“We are looking to expand the Swindon team, and we welcome applications from all walks of life and all backgrounds. Mainly, we want to hear from people who are interested in fairness, upholding standards and who want to make a difference”
Anyone interested in becoming an Independent Custody Visitor can contact Katherine Eddie: [email protected]
Saturday 25 January 2025
Tuesday 21 January 2025
Thursday 9 January 2025