Independent custody visitors are the most frequent monitors of police custody across the UK, over 1,300 volunteers making unannounced visits to police custody, week in, week out (some visits have happened on Christmas Day and New Years Eve), whatever the time of year to check on the rights, entitlements and wellbeing of those held in […]

ICVA today publishes an impact report highlighting the important work being done to better support women held in police custody, marking World Menopause Day 2024. ICVA, a national membership organisation for independent monitoring of police custody, has issued an impact report today on recent work in collaboration with Sussex Office of the Police and Crime […]

 Please can you tell us why you think children need a specific approach in police custody?  The MPS recognises that children and young people are a protected group with specific vulnerabilities. Arrest and detention of children must only be used as a last resort and for the shortest appropriate period of time. The custody environment […]

ICVA surveys schemes about important issues in custody visiting on a monthly basis. This month ICVA has focussed on measuring the impact that Sussex OPCC, with assistance from ICVA, along with the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) and College of Policing (CoP) have had in their work on lighting levels in custody. This report gives […]

At the heart of our communities, Independent Custody Visitors (ICVs) quietly carry out a powerful job — making sure that people in police custody are treated fairly, with dignity, and in line with their rights. They do this entirely on a volunteer basis, often behind the scenes, but their impact speaks volumes. In the past […]