We are absolutely thrilled to announce that just prior to Christmas, the Policing Minister Sarah Jones wrote to ICVA giving us a Home Office commitment to reviewing the Code of Practice for independent custody visiting.  We know that you will be excited and welcome this announcement as we have.  

As you will all know, as part of ICVAs business plan last year, and in consultation with our members, policing stakeholders and others, we produced a suggested review to the 2013 Code to the Police Powers Unit (PPU) for consideration, with a recommendation that the Code be amended. The announcement from the Minister committing to review is an incredibly important step in progressing this vital work stream. The amends to the Code that we have suggested are those areas that are important to you, such as conflict of interest and access to custody records, amongst others.  

The Home Office are working towards a review of the Code of Practice over the coming year, and we will be working with them to achieve this. We aren’t currently able to give specific timings for project activities but the review will include a full public consultation (this includes our members, policing stakeholders and the general public) for a period of 6 weeks, followed by a Period for the Home Office to consider and make any amends arising from the consultation, prior to laying before Parliament. We will of course be in touch with you all when we are in a position to confirm any timings.  

Once the consultation is live, we will put on an event for our members to discuss the proposed amends, and are happy to support you in any way you need in the coming months. We will be including a work stream in our business plan to support you all fully through the consultation phase, and throughout the year once a new Code is in place to ensure that you have everything you need.  

We are incredibly thankful to the team at the PPU and of course the Minister for supporting our call to review the Code.