Summary of Findings October to December 2022

During the reporting period the majority of the visits conducted were physical face to face visits to Police Scotland Custody Suites. Throughput during October - December 2022 was 24,438 (19,915 males, 4508 female and 15 unknown).

A total of 259 visits were attempted, 254 were successful.

19 of these visits were carried out via telephone monitoring.

Of the 1133 detainees in custody at the time of visit 535 (47%) were offered a visit. (114 female, 413 male, 8 children).

388 detainees were seen by an ICV’s (34%) (82 female, 299 male, 7 children)

153 (13%) detainees were not available at the time of visit.

147 (13%) detainees declined the offer of a visit.

5 visits had to be abandoned, all of which were face to face visits.

Overall 254 (98%) visits were reported by ICV’s as being successful visits.

228 of these visits ICV’s recorded/commented on positive feedback regarding custody staff/ officers.

4 Legalised Police Cell activations reported and recorded.

During the 254 successful visits there was no recorded concerns relating to torture inhumane treatment.

The visitors continue to highlight in their observations that that there appear to be ongoing issues regarding the timely and appropriate offering and/or providing detainees with access to washing and showering facilities which has been articulated by PS colleagues during the visit as being due to the availability of staff to facilitate washing. The Police Scotland Care and Welfare Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) states that where an arrested person is to be detained in custody for more than a full day, they must be offered facilities to wash and/or shave at least once per day.

It is the view of a number of the ICVs that detainees’ wellbeing and treatment would be improved if they were offered access to washing facilities at the first opportunity after being processed in custody where capacity and facilities allow and in particular where the detainee is due for court the next lawful day regardless of time spent in custody.

170 out of 254 successful visits (67%) had no outstanding issues as these were resolved at the time of visit.

During the reporting period 59 visits (23%) were resolved after the regional coordinators followed up with cluster Inspector.

25 visits (10%) were noted as having an outstanding issue/concern. The majority of these are related to continuing estate issues. The ICVS is aware that Inverness, Rothesay and Dunoon are all part of a refurbishment plan and work is currently ongoing.