.png)
The Independent Custody Visitor (ICV) schemes exist to provide assurance to local communities so that they can have confidence in the way the police treat people who are held in their custody.
The Police and Crime Commissioner must ensure that robust and effective procedures for establishing and maintaining the scheme are in place. The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) recruits volunteer ICVs to undertake the role and provides them with support and on-going training to ensure that they can carry out their role effectively. The scheme plays an important part in maintaining police accountability to the local community and the aim of this annual report is to ensure that this information is available in the public domain.
ICVs are vetted volunteers who visit our custody suite in pairs and speak to detainees who are being held in police custody. Visits are random, unannounced and can take place at any time of the day and night.
Our Scheme
The Independent Custody Visiting Scheme in Durham has one panel operating across 3 custody suites in Durham, Darlington and Peterlee. There are 38 cells.
The panel is assisted by a Scheme Manager from the OPCC and a Scheme Co-ordinator (who is a custody visitor). Within their six-monthly ICV Panel meetings, ICVs are provided with data on their recent visits. They are asked to consider this data when arranging visits to ensure visits are conducted at varied days and times throughout the week.
The panel meetings are also attended by a Custody Inspector who will provided ICV’s with any information they may need to be aware of. We are also a member of the Independent Custody Visiting Association (ICVA) which is a Home Office, Policing Authority and Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) funded membership organisation set up to lead, support and represent PCC’s and Policing Authority led schemes.
For more information please visit www.icva.org.ukIndependent Custody Visiting Association (“ICVA”) is a Home Office, Policing Authority and Police and Crime Commissioner.