The Hertfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner’s Office (OPCC) has been recognised nationally for the high quality of its independent custody visiting scheme.

Under this scheme, trained volunteers from the local community (Independent Custody Visitors or ICVs), managed by the OPCC make regular unannounced visits to police custody suites to check on the rights, entitlements, wellbeing and dignity of the detainees held there.

Their findings are reported to the Police and Crime Commissioner David Lloyd who holds the Chief Constable to account. 

The Independent Custody Visiting Association (ICVA) - the national membership organisation that supports, leads and represents these schemes - has developed a quality assurance framework to assess how well schemes comply with the code of practice that governs custody visiting [see note]. 

This is the second year that schemes have been assessed under the framework, and have been able to gain quality assurance awards to recognise the value of their work. The Hertfordshire scheme was presented with a Silver quality assurance award by ICVA on Wednesday November 29, at a ceremony in Birmingham. 

Welcoming the award, David Lloyd said: “This award recognises the great work undertaken by our volunteers to ensure that conditions in the Constabulary custody suites are maintained to exceptional standards. The health and wellbeing of those being held is monitored during several visits every week to ensure the rights, wellbeing and health of detainees are upheld.”

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."

Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer visitor can get more details on the ICV section of this website.