Serious concerns raised over standards of Cumbria Police custody suites

Cumbria Police's custody suites have come under scrutiny in an inspectorate's report.

HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services and the Care Quality Commission found that in some cases poor record keeping made it hard to determine if use of force on inmates was necessary or proportianate.

There were also concerns has shown little improvement since the issue was raised in their last inspection.

The report also found when detainees’ clothing is removed for safety reasons and they are given safety suits, some remain naked in their cells.

That was down to a delay in processing arrivals into custody centres.

This is what the report said: "The force’s governance and oversight of use of force in custody isn’t good enough, with little improvement since our last inspection. It is a cause of concern. There is some monitoring and review of incidents, but information about how often force is used in custody is inaccurate. Not all staff involved in an incident complete the required use-of-force forms, and incidents aren’t always properly recorded on custody records, and sometimes aren’t recorded at all. Our review of CCTV footage of incidents showed they weren’t always managed well.

"The constabulary’s governance and oversight of its use of force isn’t good enough. The data it has is inaccurate because use-of-force forms aren’t completed for all incidents, and incidents aren’t always properly recorded on custody records. Quality assurance processes are limited, and our own review of CCTV incidents found they weren’t always managed well. The force can’t show that when force is used in custody it is always necessary, justified and proportionate."

"Custody staff interact respectfully and courteously with detainees. Privacy for detainees is generally well maintained, and they are usually properly attired when walking around the suite or in interviews. But when detainees’ clothing is removed for safety reasons and they are given safety suits, detainee dignity isn’t maintained because some remain naked in cells."

Officials have also been recognised for working well with partner organisations, as well as their focus on diverting children and young people away from custody where possible.

Cumbria Police response

"Cumbria Constabulary welcomes the publication of this report. HMICFRS have identified that Cumbria Constabulary has improved its Custody provision since the last inspection and highlights the good oversight arrangements in place for the safe and respectful provision of custody.

“The Constabulary is pleased at how HMICFRS has recognised its work with partners and in particularly its work to divert children and young people away from Custody and how this is applied by frontline officers. HMICFRS have also found that staff in our custody suites interact respectfully and courteously with detainees, their approach to detainee care is good and they demonstrate a caring attitude, doing their best to meet individual and diverse needs.

“The constabulary also acknowledges that some of the processes in recording information can be improved, including those relating to the use of force. Our priority in custody is to ensure the safety and welfare of detainees.

“Our officers and staff deal with difficult and complex situations each day, some of which require appropriate use of force to ensure the safety of an individual concerned, our officers or the public. It’s important that we record these interactions effectively to ensure use of force is necessary, justified and proportionate.

“Following the inspection in January we have already started to address the areas highlighted for improvement and welcome these recommendation to help us to continue to improve our custody provision. We have already amended our recording process for use of force to drive consistency and enhanced our existing quality assurance processes in recognition of this feedback.

“We also acknowledge the good work from our custody staff which has been rightly highlighted by HMICFRS in this inspection.’’

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