PCC thanks custody visitors for 'unseen but vital' role
Volunteers visit Police custody suites to ensure fair standards of treatment are maintained towards detainees
Volunteers assessing Wiltshire Police's custody suites have been thanked for their part in helping the Force deliver an effective service.
Independent Custody Visitors (ICVs) travel to the suites in Swindon and Melksham on a regular basis to ensure staff are treating detainees fairly and with respect, and that the facilities are well maintained.
They've been thanked for the role they perform by Police and Crime Commissioner, Philip Wilkinson, who said their work, while unseen by the public, is critical in ensuring detainees are treated appropriately.
He said: “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”
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.
The ICV team scrutinises every suite in the county several times a year and there's a need for more people to join the team in Swindon.
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 via [email protected].