Hampshire Police Authority

19 February, 2002

Hampshire Independent Custody Visiting Scheme - July to December, 2001

Report of the Clerk

Contact: Miss S. Jackson. 01962 871595

1. Introduction

1.1. This report reviews progress of the Hampshire Independent Custody Visiting Scheme for the period July to December, 2001 and attaches as Appendices the six monthly progress reports from the four Panel Convenors.

2. The Current Position

2.1. There are currently 64 Custody Visitors in the Hampshire Scheme with the total number of vacancies standing at 23.

2.2. Despite the vacancies, 218 custody visits took place during this period, an increase of 14 visits over the same period last year and 32 more than in 1999. The Panels should be commended for this outstanding effort.

3. Independent Custody Visiting - Recruitment Campaign

3.1. A meeting was held with the four Panel Convenors in February to plan a recruitment campaign to help fill the vacancies across the two counties in accordance with the revised Scheme. It is intended that advertisements will be placed in newspapers circulating in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight in early May followed by information evenings held at venues around the two Counties in late May. Training will be arranged in the first part of July and it is hoped that any new recruits will be able to attend the annual seminar to be held in the Lecture Theatre at Netley at the end of July.

4. Independent Custody Visiting Association (ICVA) - National Conference

4.1. Following the continued success of the development of custody visiting in Scotland, the ICVAs Annual Conference and Annual General Meeting was held at the Scottish Training Centre at Tulliallan Castle, Kincardineshire from 30 November to 2 December, 2001. It was attended by the Scheme Administrator, the Panel Convenors for the Isle of Wight, North, and South East Panels, and the Secretary of the South West Panel. The Conference was chaired by the President of the ICVA, Mr. N. Ward, Councillor A. Keddie, Fife Council, and Councillor S. Murphy, Greater Manchester Police Authority.

4.2. The topics covered included the role of the Police Ombudsman in Northern Ireland, the introduction of Custody Visiting in Romania which included an address by the Honorary Secretary of State for European Union Integration and Internal Affairs and a presentation by three young Romanian Custody Visitors about their work to introduce and promote the scheme in Iasi, the only City to have a scheme at the moment.

4.3. Other presentations included the work of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland, a presentation by a Lay Inspector giving a Scottish perspective, a speech by Dr. Richard Simpson MSP, the Deputy Minister of Justice, and talks by the Chief Constable of Fife Constabulary, Sgt. R. Hubbard, a trainer at the Scottish Police College about custody procedures and best practice, and three Scottish Custody Visitors about their particular views of their work.

4.4. On the whole, everyone who attended agreed that the Conference was both interesting and informative and provided a valuable opportunity to exchange areas of best practice and expertise.

5. Mrs. R. Pepper - Convenor of the South East Panel

5.1. The Convenor of the South East Panel, Mrs. Ruth Pepper, will be relinquishing this role after six years due to work commitments. However, she will continue to serve as a Custody Visitor on the Panel, providing much valued support and encouragement to new Custody Visitors. She has been replaced as Convenor by Mr. John Bennett who will take over the role formally from 1 April, 2002.

5.2. The Authority is asked to extend its thanks to Mrs. Pepper for her dedication to the work of the South East Panel during the last six years which has seen it go from strength to strength.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

(a) That the report be noted.

(b) That all Custody Visitors be commended for their continuing contribution to the maintenance of the high standard of the Hampshire Custody Visiting Scheme.

(c) That the thanks of the Authority be conveyed to Mrs. Ruth Pepper, the Convenor of the South East Panel, for her valued contribution to the development of Custody Visiting in Hampshire.

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