Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion has received national recognition for the very high quality of his Independent Custody Visitors (ICV) scheme.
The PCC has been awarded a silver-level accreditation, meaning the scheme provides a good standard of custody visiting and volunteer management.
The PCC is committed to ensuring that police custody is safe for everyone who is involved in the process and has operated this vital scheme for several years.
In West Mercia, trained volunteers visit police custody suites across the three counties to ensure the custody process is meeting the expected standards. This includes checking on the welfare of detainees and that police officers and staff are following all the correct legal protocols.
Welcoming the accreditation, the PCC said: “People being safe in custody is one of my top priorities. We have a strong ICV scheme in West Mercia, which provides transparency and confidence in policing.
“The volunteers are highly valued, and I am always grateful for their tireless contribution. I am pleased to accept this accreditation, which recognises the fundamental work they are doing to keep people safe.”
Dame Anne Owers, Chair of 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.”
Sherry Ralph, Chief Executive at ICVA said: “The quality assurance framework represents a significant amount of additional work to ensure that independent custody visiting is regularly reviewed, improvements are made where they are needed and excellent practice is shared. I congratulate schemes on their accomplishments and thank them for their commitment.”
