Independent Custody Volunteer - Brighton Custody Centre

The Office of the Sussex PCC manages up to 40 dedicated volunteers who undertake vital duties for its Independent Custody Visiting (ICV) scheme. Representatives from the community are recruited and appointed on a geographical basis to visit the five police custody centres in Sussex (Brighton, Crawley, Eastbourne, Hastings and Worthing). Unannounced visits are made by pairs of visitors at varying times of the day and night to ensure a consistent pattern of visits. After every visit, the pair of visitors complete a written report form about their findings, which is then passed onto the ICV Scheme Manager at the Office of the Sussex PCC.

Benefits

• Independent Custody Visitors (ICVs) are members of the local community who volunteer to visit police stations unannounced to check on the treatment & welfare of people held in police custody. ICV recommendations can require the police to make improvements for the welfare of detainees. Working as part of a local panel, they play a valuable role in maintaining public confidence in this important area of policing by making sure that detainees are treated well.
• ICVs benefit from being able to make a real difference to their local community, engaging with a range of people from diverse backgrounds and upholding custody standards in Sussex.
• ICVs are provided with induction and on-going training, are part of a force wide team of ICVs, have paid travel expenses and will gain invaluable experience within a police custody centre (amongst other opportunities). 

 

Practical Considerations

• Volunteers will have travel expenses paid for journeys to and from the custody centre.
• Access to custody centres is 24/7 so volunteers are able to elect the most convenient time for them to visit.  

Support Disabled

The Scheme manager has oversight of the role risk assessment and custody centre procedures for reasonable adjustments to be made in support of volunteers. Each volunteer is supported based on individual need and has a ICVS Panel Co-Ordinator to offer local support.

What skills do I need?

• Must be at least 18 years of age
• Must live (or work) in the Sussex Police area
• To demonstrate sufficient time & flexibility to carry out the role of custody visiting
• To work with colleagues as part of a team to meet the Scheme’s agreed visiting programme
• To be able to communicate well both orally & in writing
• To demonstrate the ability to complete forms clearly & concisely
• To be able to communicate effectively with people from a variety of backgrounds
• To demonstrate an independent & impartial view in relation to all parties involved in the custody visiting process
• To be able to maintain confidentiality.