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 year, police custody suites across England and Wales processed nearly a million detainees — 978,315 to be exact. That’s a huge number of people, each with the right to be treated safely and humanely, regardless of why they’re there.

During that time, ICVs made 7,361 unannounced visits to check on the conditions inside custody suites. Thanks to their efforts, they were able to observe or speak with over 27,600 detainees, giving a real-time, independent view of what’s happening behind closed doors.

Even though access can sometimes be limited — due to legal proceedings, medical reasons, or detainees declining a visit — ICVs still managed to connect with a significant number of people, raising concerns when needed and sharing good practice when they saw it.

What do these visits actually mean for people in custody?

Quite a lot. ICVs regularly spot and raise issues that might otherwise go unnoticed — from making sure someone has a blanket or a hot meal, to checking whether they’ve been offered medical care or legal advice. And they follow up too, helping to make sure concerns are addressed quickly. All of this helps create custody environments that are safer, more respectful, and more in line with the law.

Importantly, the issues ICV’s raise locally also feed into the national picture. ICVA uses this on-the-ground insight to drive forward policy work, share best practice, and work with partners to drive improvements across the whole custody system, showing how ICV visits can make a difference, not just in one suite, but nationwide.

While the numbers show the scale of ICV work, it’s the individual stories that really show their value. From helping ease a detainee’s concerns about their puppy, to prompting changes in how menstruation products are made available in custody, these are real changes that wouldn’t happen without ICVs.

In a world where accountability and fairness matter more than ever, ICVs continue to play a vital role in shining a light where it matters most.

To every ICV who gave their time this year — thank you. The difference you’ve made is real, and it matters.