Volunteers wanted to check on police cells

VOLUNTEERS are being sought to help ensure people being held in police custody at being treated fairly.
Warrington-based Police and Crime Commissioner David Keane people to join the Independent Custody Visiting Scheme to assist him in assessing the effectiveness of the police custody facilities across Cheshire
ICVs are usually members of the local community who volunteer to check on the welfare of people detained in police custody. They play a valuable role in maintaining public confidence in this important area of policing and can make recommendations for the police to make improvements for the welfare of detainees.
Between April 2017 and March 2018, Cheshire ICVs made a total of 150 unannounced visits to custody suites across Cheshire offering to check on the welfare of 1,189 detainees in police custody. During such visits, a total of 596 individuals consented to be visited by ICVs.
Mr Keane said: “Independent Custody Visitors play an extremely important role, informing me whether the constabulary is upholding the high standards we expect from them.
“ICVs act as ‘critical friends’ providing me with invaluable feedback on the welfare of detainees from an independent, impartial and non-discriminatory view of all parties involved in the custody visiting process.”
Successful applicants will be appointed to one of three panels and will undertake random, unannounced visits of police cells to ensure those individuals detained are being cared for appropriately by checking on the conditions and talking with willing detainees.
An ICV will be expected to make a visit once every six weeks at one of Cheshire Police’s custody suites situated in Middlewich, Runcorn and Chester.
More information about the role, including eligibility requirements, is available on the Cheshire PCC website: https://www.cheshire-pcc.gov.uk/what-im-doing/get-involved/volunteers/custody-visitor-role-profile/
The closing date for applications is 9am on Monday November 12.