Hampshire Police Authority

24 March, 2003

Custody Visits to Police Stations - July to December, 2002

Report of the Convenor of the South West Panel

1 Central Southampton

1.1 Required visits 18. Visits made 20.

Total detainees 154
Seen 85
Unavailable 40
Declined 29

74.5% detainees seen from those available.

1.2 This is a very busy station but our visitors are always received courteously. We are usually escorted by detention officers and we would like to note that we are impressed by the sympathetic manner in which they deal with detainees. We are seeing a growing number of persons detained with language problems where interviewing is difficult though we know that we have the facilities of language line should they be required.

2 Bitterne

2.1 Required visits 12. Visits made 14.

Total detainees 34
Seen 18
Unavailable 13
Declined 3

85.7% detainees seen from those available.

2.2 There are ongoing problems here with plumbing arrangements but these are in hand. Due to manning problems this custody area is sometimes closed and detainees taken to Central. Initially this caused difficulties with visitors arriving to find no-one available. This problem has now been resolved.

3 Eastleigh

3.1 Required visits 12. Actual visits 12.

Total detainees 28
Seen 19
Unavailable 5
Declined 4

82.6% detainees seen of those available.

3.2 We note with pleasure that new toilets have been installed here and the provision of shower facilities is being investigated. We were concerned that the bringing in of food by relatives had been prohibited. On investigation we would that this was only a temporary measure and, under the circumstances, fully justified.

4 Lyndhurst

4.1 Required visits 12. Actual visits 13.

Total detainees 29
Seen 15
Unavailable 7
Declined 7

68.1% detainees seen of those available.

4.2 A custody area which is always kept clean and tidy. Some food packages were found to be out of date. These were removed.

5 St. Mary's Stadium, Southampton

5.1 Regular visits are made to home matches of the Southampton FC. Following suggestions, a ligature knife has been provided and floor lines marked to prevent detainees encroaching on to the charge desk.

6 Secondary Stations

Shirley, Hythe and Ringwood were visited during this period. Everything was found to be in order.

7 General Comments

7.1 This has been a particularly busy period. With resignations and illnesses we still managed to fulfil our required number of visits. Things should now improve with the introduction of eight new members. We welcome them to the Panel. All of them have now begun visiting with experienced Members.

7.2 The policy of "no smoking" still caused great concern at stations and we would ask that the Police Authority give consideration to an alteration of this total ban and allow custody sergeants to use their own discretion where distress is being caused.

7.3 As noted above in paragraph 1.2, language problems make the interviewing of some detainees extremely difficult. This is an increasing problem in Southampton who have growing numbers of immigrants in detention On two occasions we were helped and impressed by one interpreter, in particular, at Central, and at Eastleigh by a Police Sergeant whose fluency in German helped to pacify a distressed detainee.

7.4 Once again our thanks to the staff of custody areas for their polite and friendly receptions to our visits.

RECOMMENDATION:

That the report be noted.

4fR590203