Holding to account

Each Force area has a Police and Crime Panel which has the power to scrutinise my activities, including the ability to review my Police and Crime Plan and annual report, request papers and call me to public hearings.  The Panel also have a key role in supporting the delivery of my Plan as Councillors and as members of the local community.

The Panel can veto decisions on the policing element of the council tax precept and an appointment of a new Chief Constable and senior appointments within my office.  

The Panel do not hold the CC to account as that is the role of the elected Commissioner.

The Police and Crime Panel

The Panel is made up of representatives from the two local authorities (Wiltshire Council and Swindon Borough Council) in the police force area.  There are 11 elected councillors and two independent members who are appointed through an open and transparent recruitment process. 

The Panel has the power to suspend the Commissioner if charged with an imprisonable offence and may appoint an acting Commissioner should the Commissioner be incapacitated, disqualified, or should they resign.

Wiltshire council publish meeting agendas, minutes and reports on their website

Browse meetings - Wiltshire Police and Crime Panel | Wiltshire Council

Please find the PCP highlight report which includes force performance data on the Websites performance page Performance and oversight (wiltshire-pcc.gov.uk)

The Panel is administered by Wiltshire Council and holds regular meetings in public.  Further information on the purpose pf the Panel can be found on Wiltshire Council's website

• Review and challenge the Police and Crime Plan
• Make recommendations on the police precept (located on the Wilts council website)
• Review and report on the Commissioner's Annual Report
• Scrutinise key strategic decisions
• Review and have the power to veto Chief Constable appointments via a public confirmation hearing
• Review other OPCC senior appointments
• Carry out initial handling and informal resolution of Contact Wiltshire Crime Panel - Wiltshire Council
• Make reports or recommendations to the Commissioner on the discharge of his functions and publish its reports and recommendations made

What the Police and Crime Panel does not have the power to do:

• The ability to scrutinise the force or its work
• The ability to work with the PCC on decisions about funding and priorities
• Management or control of Community Safety Partnerships
• Local police or community safety scrutiny

Hold to account

Independent Custody Visitors

Independent Custody Visitors are members of the public - like you - who visit detainees in custody and make sure that they are being looked after properly.

They help the PCC to ensure that the police service is open and accountable to the public. They provide an independent check on the welfare of people who are detained in custody.  The scheme typically operates on between 18-22 Independent Custody Visitors and they take it in turns to visit. 

ICV Scheme Annual Report 2023.pdf

Where do they visit?

There are two custody units in Wiltshire, one in Melksham and one in Swindon. Each has its own team of visitors who make unannounced visits, in pairs, to the custody suites. Detainees can raise any concerns about their detention with the custody visitors who can then speak to the custody staff to solve any problems and report their findings back to the PCC.

What else do the Independent Custody Visitors do?

They all meet at least twice a year to discuss their findings at Panel meetings which are also attended by members of the police force and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.

Custody Visitors are recruited, appointed and overseen by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and are totally independent of the police force. They carry out a very valuable and important role that helps to strengthen police accountability.

What qualifications do you need to be an Independent Custody Visitor?

All Independent Custody Visitors must:

• Be over 18 years old
• English speaking
• Live or work within Wiltshire and Swindon
• Have been resident in the United Kingdom for at least two years
• Not be a serving police officer, member of police staff, special constable, magistrate or from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner. 

How are visits arranged?

You'll always visit in pairs and you will always be told well in advance who you will be visiting with and which weeks you should visit- you then decide with your partner exactly when you go. Visitors should be punctual and reliable. When you visit you will follow a structured procedure and you must be methodical and comply with all the policies, procedures and the relevant legislation.

What will you see during a visit?

When you visit, you may come into contact with sights and sounds which you may be unfamiliar to you. Some detainees may be more challenging than others but you need to be able to be flexible, adaptable and open minded.  All our visitors also need to be able to deal with people from a cross section of society and confidence when dealing with custody staff and detainees is essential. You will always be accompanied by a custody officer who will remain in sight but out of hearing when you speak to a detainee

What other skills do you need to be a visitor?

Good communication skills are vital. Visitors need to be assertive but not aggressive. You have to be able to communicate with many different types of people many of whom could be upset or angry. You have to be able to ask questions, listen to answers and write up accurate reports at the end of the visit, summarising your findings and the action taken by custody staff.

Independence of custody visitors is vital to the success of the scheme and you will come across people from all walks of life. So you have to respect their opinions, circumstances and feelings without being judgemental and be able to communicate with them to ensure that they are being looked after properly in custody.

What support do you get to be a visitor?

All custody visitors have induction training and are then paired up with a more experienced visitor who acts as a mentor. There is an experienced visitor who acts as team co-ordinator for each of the two teams and a Scheme Manager to manages the scheme on behalf of the PCC.  You have a responsibility to keep your knowledge of custody visiting up to date by attending Panel meetings and training sessions. We also provide reading material in the form of briefings.

Are you interested in becoming a custody visitor?

We are currently recruiting if you would like more information or an application, please email

[email protected]