Our custody scrutiny team celebrate national award.

Custody Visiting Volunteers David Sampson and Cheryl Martin with ICVA Chief Executive Katie Kempen

Humberside Police and Crime Commissioner Keith Hunter has praised dedicated volunteers who help to ensure high standards of custody provision across Humberside after the scheme won a prestigious award. The PCC’s Independent Custody Visiting Scheme was recently presented with a Gold Quality Assurance Award at a ceremony at the House of Lords.

ICVs make unannounced weekly visits to Humberside Police custody centres in Hull and Grimsby to monitor the standard of facilities and check on the rights, entitlements and wellbeing of detainees. Their findings are reported to the PCC who has the duty of holding the force to account.

The Quality Assurance awards were introduced by the Independent Custody Visiting Association to assess compliance with their Code of Practice, strengthen performance and increase sharing of good practice. They celebrate areas of strength and help promote the achievements of the scheme.

Schemes are judged against set criteria as part of a graded award system comprising; Platinum, Gold, Silver and Code Complaint. A “Gold” ranking recognises an excellent standard of custody visiting and volunteer management. Commenting on the success, Keith Hunter said: “I’m immensely proud of the Humberside Independent Custody Visiting scheme and our custody visitors, who are all volunteers.

“They make their visits at all hours of the day and night, without financial reward and play a vital role in ensuring that people who are held in police custody are treated with dignity and respect in accordance with the United Nations OPCAT (Optional Protocol to the Prevention Against Torture) of people deprived of their liberty.

“This award is a fantastic achievement for everybody who contributes to the scheme and provides further verification that our custody provision is among the best in the country. We will continue to work hard to deliver our responsibilities.”

Martyn Underhill, Chairman of ICVA, said: “These awards recognise the standard of schemes being run in the area, and help drive up the standards of our schemes across the UK. Warm congratulations to all of the winners.”

Katie Kempen, Chief Executive at ICVA said: “Independent custody visiting schemes ensure that the public have oversight of a high pressure and often hidden area of policing. These awards demonstrate how local schemes use volunteer feedback to make change and ensure that police custody is safe and dignified for all. I congratulate schemes on their accomplishments.”

Anyone who would like to volunteer with the Humberside Custody Visiting Scheme can find further information HERE