Independent Custody Visiting

We are recruiting for Independent Custody Visitors
 

Could this be you?

Are you interested in people?
Do you have some time to spare?
Would you like to make sure people in police custody are well looked after?

This is an opportunity to make a real difference to the welfare of vulnerable people in custody.

Do you care about the wellbeing and rights of all people?

This is a great opportunity for those who wish to gain an insight into the criminal justice system.
 

If you are interested in applying email: lincolnshire-pcc@lincs.police.uk

What is independent custody visiting?

Every PCC has a legal duty to run an Independent Custody Visiting scheme, in which local members of the public who volunteer to serve as Independent Custody Visitors (ICVs) making regular, unannounced visits to police custody to check on the rights, entitlements and wellbeing of detainees as well as the conditions they are held in.

Visits are made by pairs of volunteers where they speak to detainees, review custody records and check custody suite conditions and essential stocks such as food, clothing and religious items. ICVs ask custody staff to resolve any immediate issues and complete visit reports, alerting the PCC to their findings.

After training, custody visitors will know what to ask, what to look for and what may be done.  They must be impartial and favour neither the police nor the detainee.  On completion of their visit a report form is completed and passed to all stakeholders involved in the Scheme.

Through the work of ICVs, PCCs are able to give assurance to the public that people detained by the police in their force area are being treated in a lawful, ethical and transparent way.

Impact Of Custody Visiting

ICVs’ reports regularly result in improvements throughout custody. Working together with partners throughout the police service, ICVA has used information gathered by ICVs and OPCC staff to impact meaningful changes such as a reduction in lighting levels to ensure detainees are able to get their legally entitled uninterrupted periods of rest, and the establishment of a new referral pathway for those who may be experiencing symptoms of the perimenopause/menopause in police custody.

When would I visit? 
ICVs can visit custody suites at any time of day or night, 7 days a week so you can volunteer even if you have full-time work or study commitments.

What would I get out of it? 
ICVs report that they find the role extremely rewarding, that they learn a great deal about themselves, vulnerable people and the criminal justice system. A great way to give something to your community and build your CV.

Am I part of the police force? 
No. Custody Visitors are independent of the police entirely. The scheme is managed by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Lincolnshire.

Will it cost me anything?
ICVs receive a travel allowance or can have their travel expenses refunded by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.

Where will I be based?

We have vacancies within all four of our local visiting panels, namely, the South East Panel (serving Boston custody suite), West Panel (serving Lincoln custody suite), East Panel (serving Skegness custody suite) and South West Panel (serving Grantham custody suite).

If you are interested in applying for one of the above-mentioned vacancies, then you can contact the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and request an application pack be emailed or posted out to you.
 

Do I need to have qualifications? 
No. ICVs visit custody to represent the community and all applications will be considered, no formal qualifications are needed and training will be given. We want you if you are interested in police custody, human rights and the treatment of people in detention.

Can anyone apply?

There are a few criteria for applicants, ICVs must be over 18 and live or work in Lincolnshire. Applicants must be able to attain police vetting but a criminal record is not necessarily a ban, please do get in touch to talk this through with us if you want to apply but think this might be a problem for you. 

Volunteers are drawn from a variety of backgrounds and sections of the community and have no direct involvement in the Criminal Justice system, for example, as serving police officers or special constables.  Other people such as solicitors or probation officers may be excluded, to prevent possible conflicts of interest arising.  This helps to maintain the independence of the Scheme as a whole.
 

Contact details are as follows:

Email: lincolnshire-pcc@lincs.police.uk

Telephone: 01522 212351   or    07876 476057                                           

Address:  OPCC for Lincolnshire, Deepdale Lane, Nettleham LN2 2LT

We are really keen to have applications from all members of the community so please do get in touch! Let us know if you need any assistance with the application process, we are happy to help.
 

Quotes from people who have done it:

https://youtu.be/28XLd2-zUxY