‘I would just like to say that I found the QAF process well-structured. I printed off the criteria which enabled me to work towards every objective, ensuring I had sufficient evidence built up in time for the assessment. West Mercia have achieved their first silver award, and this has been thanks to the ease of […]

Menopause in Police Custody: Progress in establishing a new referral pathway and sharing of good practice in NPM. The menopause is a natural, hormonal transition, and yet only now is the understanding of symptoms and impact of those symptoms beginning to be more widely understood and acknowledged in society, but what awareness and care is […]

ICVA is delighted to announce that a new, permanent Chair has been appointed at the Board of Directors. Dame Anne Owers joins ICVA from her most recent tenure as the Chair of the Independent Monitoring Board. Dame Anne has an incredible career throughout the Criminal Justice System, most recently as the first non-executive National Chair […]

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 […]

ICVA is delighted today to release the interim evaluation into a joint pilot with Dyfed Powys Police and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Dyfed Powys. ICVA has undertaken a thematic review of the use of anti-rip clothing in police custody having noted the frequency with which it was reported as an […]

When does national success in lighting the way ahead mean reducing the amount of light? Interested?  You are welcome to read on … What were the issues? On a weekly basis, Independent Custody Visiting Scheme (ICVS) Managers read many reports from Independent Custody Volunteers (ICVs) who make unannounced visits to custody centres and speak with […]