Student custody visitors training for England, Wales and Northern Ireland

Procedures and Processes

The Role of Independent Custody Visitors
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The Role of Independent Custody Visitors

This two minute video will introduce you to the role of the Independent Custody Visitor.

Independent custody visitors visit police stations and carry out specific checks. These ensure that people detained in police custody are being properly cared for in accordance with the guidelines and codes of practice stated in PACE.

Independent custody visitors observe, comment and report upon the conditions under which people are detained in police custody.

In order to make these visits effective, visits to police stations are frequent, unannounced and random.

When making a visit, independent custody visitors’ responsibilities are to observe, comment and report upon:
The legal rights of the person being detained –
which include free legal advice, the right to inform someone of their detention and access to a copy of the codes of practice contained in PACE
The conditions of the facilities and environment in which they are being detained
The custody area and cells should be clean, safe and suitable for detaining people
The health and wellbeing of the detainee
Which depends upon the way they are treated, adequate rest, food and drink, exercise and, if required, medical attention.