Independent Custody Visitors recruitment

Voluntary positions

Who are Independent Custody Visitors?

Independent Custody Visitors (ICVs) are members of the local community who visit police stations unannounced to check on the conditions and treatment of people in police custody.

The MPA is seeking to recruit visitors from as many different backgrounds and communities as possible to ensure the scheme reflects London’s diversity.

London Independent Custody Visiting Scheme

The MPA has a statutory responsibility to run and manage a custody visiting scheme in London. The Authority’s intention is to maintain a professional and well managed scheme to ensure the treatment of people held in custody across the capital is satisfactory.

From its beginnings in Lambeth in 1984, the scheme now operates across all 32 London boroughs and has around 450 volunteer visitors. Each borough has a custody visitors’ panel to direct local activity, supported by an MPA staff member who, working with the panel chair, coordinates activities and ensures its efficient management.

To be eligible to join the London independent custody visitor scheme you must be 18 or over and live, work or study in the capital. Visitors must have no direct involvement in the criminal justice system. For example, they cannot be serving police officers or staff, special constables or magistrates.

What do Independent Custody Visitors do?

Once a week two visitors from a local panel attend a police station at a random, unannounced time to make an inspection and speak to detainees.

On arrival at the police station, visitors are escorted to the custody area where they interview a number of detainees in their cells and complete a structured report form. For the visitors’ protection interviews are normally carried out within sight, but out of hearing, of the escorting police officer.

Strict rules of confidentiality apply. Detainees are identified only by their custody numbers, and the details of what visitors see and hear must also be treated as confidential. It is equally important that independent custody visitors maintain their independence and impartiality and do not become involved or take sides. They are there to look, listen and report on conditions in the custody facility.

The report form completed after each visit provides an insight into the running of the custody facility. Copies of the reports are provided for the police, police authority and the visitors’ local panel for discussion and follow up.

ICVs are expected to attend local borough panel meetings every 4-8 weeks to discuss the visits they and colleagues have made. Their reports, which provide a vital source of information on the rights, entitlements and environmental conditions in which detainees are held, are analysed and any areas of concern are highlighted for action. See also the ICV handbook.

Independent Custody Visitors – a typical visit

It is nearly midnight on a Tuesday at a local police station. The desk sergeant is deciding what to do with two very drunk young men who have done a fair bit of damage in the nearby pub while an older woman stands at a distance waiting to report that her bag has been snatched on the night bus.

Zena and Frank are ICVs who have the right to turn up at any local police station and check how people in custody are being treated. They pay their surprise visit once a week at any time of the day or night.

The ICVs show their identity cards to the desk sergeant and are promptly taken by the Custody Officer through to the custody area.

ICVs inspect cells, stores and other facilities to make sure that detainees are treated well according to police and Human Rights legislation and detainees have the opportunity to speak with them if they wish.

Want to get involved?

The MPA wants to recruit many more Londoners to the independent custody visiting scheme and would like to hear from you if you believe you can offer your time and experience to this important work. On becoming a volunteer you will need to attend training sessions to prepare you for the role.

How to apply

If you are interested in becoming an independent custody visitor please read the information contained in the information and application pack. If you feel you meet the criteria and description, fill out the application form, and monitoring information form, at the back of the pack and return it to the ICV Coordinator. If your application is successful you will be asked to attend for a short interview.

Requirements of applicants:

You must be 18 years or over.
For vetting purposes you must have resided in the UK for the last 3 years.
Your appointment as an independent custody visitor is subject to successful clearance by the MPS Vetting Department.

There are two options available:

Download and complete the Information and application pack and send to the ICV Coordinator.
Please contact ICV Coordinator for a copy of the Information and application pack

Information and application pack

Information and application pack (Word document)
Information and application pack (PDF document)

More information

ICV handbook
Guidelines, produced by the MPA as a practical guide to independent custody visiting within London. For anyone appointed as a custody visitor who intends to make a visit to a place of detention this guide when used in conjunction with the Codes of Practice and National Standards provides comprehensive guidance on what they may see and how they are expected to behave during the course of the visit.
Memorandum of Understanding
A volunteer agreement between ICVs and the MPA, outlining expectations of both parties. ICVs are required to sign a copy of the Memorandum of Understanding before commencing their volunteering activity.

For more information about the London ICV scheme please contact:

ICV Coordinator
Metropolitan Police Authority
FREEPOST
LON17808
LONDON
SW1H 0DY

Freephone: 0808 100 1036
Minicom: 020 7202 0173
Email: icvrecruitment@mpa.gov.uk

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QuickSearch Advanced search See also The following external websites are relevant: Haringey ICV Panel The following is available as a PDF document: Information and application pack ICV handbook The following is available as a Word document: Information and application pack Portable Document Format (PDF) files require Adobe Acrobat Reader, available as a free download from Adobe.			Views Print Accessible Actions Comment Report crime Report fraud Send
	Page summary This resource is from the Partnerships section. This section contains recruitment information for Independent Custody Visitors (ICVs). Sections available here: Independent Custody Visitors recruitment Who are Independent Custody Visitors? London Independent Custody Visiting Scheme What do Independent Custody Visitors do? Independent Custody Visitors – a typical visit Want to get involved? How to apply Information and application pack More information Content Independent Custody Visitors recruitment Voluntary positions Who are Independent Custody Visitors? Independent Custody Visitors (ICVs) are members of the local community who visit police stations unannounced to check on the conditions and treatment of people in police custody. The MPA is seeking to recruit visitors from as many different backgrounds and communities as possible to ensure the scheme reflects London’s diversity. London Independent Custody Visiting Scheme The MPA has a statutory responsibility to run and manage a custody visiting scheme in London. The Authority’s intention is to maintain a professional and well managed scheme to ensure the treatment of people held in custody across the capital is satisfactory. From its beginnings in Lambeth in 1984, the scheme now operates across all 32 London boroughs and has around 450 volunteer visitors. Each borough has a custody visitors’ panel to direct local activity, supported by an MPA staff member who, working with the panel chair, coordinates activities and ensures its efficient management. To be eligible to join the London independent custody visitor scheme you must be 18 or over and live, work or study in the capital. Visitors must have no direct involvement in the criminal justice system. For example, they cannot be serving police officers or staff, special constables or magistrates. What do Independent Custody Visitors do? Once a week two visitors from a local panel attend a police station at a random, unannounced time to make an inspection and speak to detainees. On arrival at the police station, visitors are escorted to the custody area where they interview a number of detainees in their cells and complete a structured report form. For the visitors’ protection interviews are normally carried out within sight, but out of hearing, of the escorting police officer. Strict rules of confidentiality apply. Detainees are identified only by their custody numbers, and the details of what visitors see and hear must also be treated as confidential. It is equally important that independent custody visitors maintain their independence and impartiality and do not become involved or take sides. They are there to look, listen and report on conditions in the custody facility. The report form completed after each visit provides an insight into the running of the custody facility. Copies of the reports are provided for the police, police authority and the visitors’ local panel for discussion and follow up. ICVs are expected to attend local borough panel meetings every 4-8 weeks to discuss the visits they and colleagues have made. Their reports, which provide a vital source of information on the rights, entitlements and environmental conditions in which detainees are held, are analysed and any areas of concern are highlighted for action. See also the ICV handbook. Independent Custody Visitors – a typical visit It is nearly midnight on a Tuesday at a local police station. The desk sergeant is deciding what to do with two very drunk young men who have done a fair bit of damage in the nearby pub while an older woman stands at a distance waiting to report that her bag has been snatched on the night bus. Zena and Frank are ICVs who have the right to turn up at any local police station and check how people in custody are being treated. They pay their surprise visit once a week at any time of the day or night. The ICVs show their identity cards to the desk sergeant and are promptly taken by the Custody Officer through to the custody area. ICVs inspect cells, stores and other facilities to make sure that detainees are treated well according to police and Human Rights legislation and detainees have the opportunity to speak with them if they wish. Want to get involved? The MPA wants to recruit many more Londoners to the independent custody visiting scheme and would like to hear from you if you believe you can offer your time and experience to this important work. On becoming a volunteer you will need to attend training sessions to prepare you for the role. How to apply If you are interested in becoming an independent custody visitor please read the information contained in the information and application pack. If you feel you meet the criteria and description, fill out the application form, and monitoring information form, at the back of the pack and return it to the ICV Coordinator. If your application is successful you will be asked to attend for a short interview. Requirements of applicants: You must be 18 years or over. For vetting purposes you must have resided in the UK for the last 3 years. Your appointment as an independent custody visitor is subject to successful clearance by the MPS Vetting Department. There are two options available: Download and complete the Information and application pack and send to the ICV Coordinator. Please contact ICV Coordinator for a copy of the Information and application pack Information and application pack Information and application pack (Word document) Information and application pack (PDF document) More information ICV handbook Guidelines, produced by the MPA as a practical guide to independent custody visiting within London. For anyone appointed as a custody visitor who intends to make a visit to a place of detention this guide when used in conjunction with the Codes of Practice and National Standards provides comprehensive guidance on what they may see and how they are expected to behave during the course of the visit. Memorandum of Understanding A volunteer agreement between ICVs and the MPA, outlining expectations of both parties. ICVs are required to sign a copy of the Memorandum of Understanding before commencing their volunteering activity. For more information about the London ICV scheme please contact: ICV Coordinator Metropolitan Police Authority FREEPOST LON17808 LONDON SW1H 0DY Freephone: 0808 100 1036 Minicom: 020 7202 0173 Email: icvrecruitment@mpa.gov.uk Supporting material The following is available as a PDF document: Information and application pack ICV handbook Guidelines, produced by the MPA, as a practical guide to independent custody visiting within London. The following is available as a Word document: Information and application pack Portable Document Format (PDF) files require Adobe Acrobat Reader, available as a free download from Adobe. External links The following external websites are relevant: Haringey ICV Panel

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