By Tony O’Reilly-
The Northern Ireland Policing Board (NIPB) has unveiled its latest annual Independent Custody Visiting Report, shedding light on concerns raised by detainees and custody visitors regarding various aspects of detention, including allegations of sexual assault by a custody officer and the use of force in detention.
Published on Thursday, the official statistics publication covers the period from April 1, 2022, to March 31, 2023, detailing the activities of independent custody visitors (ICVs) who made a total of 489 visits to custody suites across Northern Ireland during this period.
AD: Capeesh Restaurant
Throughout the year, three allegations of significant concern were brought to the attention of ICVs. These allegations encompassed excessive handling by arresting officers, the use of force during detention, and a deeply troubling accusation of sexual assault by a custody officer.
Prominent Welfare Matter
The report also highlighted the most frequent welfare concern, which arose 34 times over the course of the year, primarily centered on the need for medical attention.
AD: Oysterian Sea Food Restaurant And Bar
This category includes instances where detainees awaited consultations with healthcare professionals or the arrival of prescribed medication.
Custody visitors verified that requests had been made to custody staff but noted that they did not wait for medical care or healthcare professionals to arrive.
Issues of Conditions
Other concerns raised by detainees or ICVs centered predominantly on conditions within the detention facilities. Out of a total of 53 instances, 32 pertained to general maintenance and faulty equipment.
The remaining issues involved concerns about cleanliness, heating and lighting, and the condition of medical rooms and health equipment.
The report documented three safety and security hazards encountered during the year. These hazards ranged from unsecured chairs in interview rooms to monitors left on the floor.
In one instance, a detainee was found in possession of a lighter and had been smoking in the cell, prompting follow-up actions by custody staff, particularly related to detainee transport.
During the reporting year, 1,136 detainees were selected for interviews, of whom 549 were visited by ICVs. Notably, 18 detainees refused to be interviewed.
Among the common reasons for detainees not being visited were instances where they were asleep (60.2 percent) or actively participating in interviews (15.3 percent). Additionally, ICVs checked 960 custody records throughout the year.
Role of ICVs
As of March 31 this year, there were 29 ICVs involved in the scheme, all of whom are volunteers from various community backgrounds and operate independently of the police and criminal justice system.
Their mission is to make unannounced visits to police custody suites, where they assess and report on the rights, health, wellbeing, and conditions of detainees. They achieve this by engaging in conversations with detainees and examining custody records.
The Northern Ireland Independent Custody Visiting Scheme was first established in 1991 by the Police Authority.
Its significance in safeguarding the rights, health, wellbeing, and detention conditions of detainees was also underscored in the 1999 Report of the Independent Commission on Policing for Northern Ireland (the Patten Report).
Subsequently, the scheme acquired a statutory foundation through section 73 of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000. This section mandates the NIPB to establish and continuously review arrangements for designated places of detention to be visited by custody visitors.
Continuing Commitment to Oversight
The NIPB’s Independent Custody Visiting Report serves as a crucial mechanism for ensuring transparency, accountability, and the protection of detainees’ rights.
In July, The Mayor of Manchester announced he was asking a barrister to look into claims women were assaulted while they were in custody, after an investigation by Sky News exposed alleged sexual assault against women in custody.
Footage obtained by one of the complainants following a subject access request revealed the moment she was stripped naked and bundled in a cell.
The British public is yet to get feedback related to the barristers findings.
AD: Heritage And Restaurant Lounge Bar