Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Danielle Stone’s Custody Detention Scrutiny Panel (CDSP) has celebrated its first full year, holding four meetings to ensure that people detained in police custody are treated fairly.
The CDSP was set up by Deputy Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Marianne Kimani to improve transparency, accountability and public confidence in police custody processes, and identify any areas for improvement.
Each panel meeting focuses on a different theme or custody process. The members review and scrutinise custody records or video footage, before feeding back any observations to a custody representative in attendance.
The most recent panel in August reviewed randomly selected records relating to the treatment of young people in custody to see whether they were completed and logged correctly. The Panel, which included young people under the age of 18, identified some issues relating to observations and recording, which have been passed to Northamptonshire Police.
Earlier Custody Detention Scrutiny Panels have reviewed cases relating to the strip search of individuals and use of force.
Across the first four meetings, the panel members saw that custody staff complied with the Police and Criminal Evidence Act, as well as local policies in most of the cases they reviewed.
It was also agreed that the welfare needs of individuals detained in custody had been appropriately considered and managed.
Deputy Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, Marianne Kimani said: “The Panel ensures that we have an independent platform to hold police to account and I am pleased that we have an engaged group of representatives eager to support us in this critical area of scrutiny.
“At the end of last year, Northamptonshire Police’s custody arrangements were assessed by HMICFRS, where it was found to be adequate in providing a safe and lawful custody environment, however, did highlight that the quality of custody records required improvement.
“The panel will continue to monitor this, but I am encouraged that across our first four meetings the Panel found that custody staff generally complied with the correct processes.”
Future Custody Detention Scrutiny Panels will cover women in custody, Liaison and Diversion provisions and health care, and will continue to check the accuracy of general recording.
