Independent Custody Visiting
Welcome to the Independent Custody Visiting Scheme for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. You’ll be able to learn more about what custody visitors are, what they do, and how to join the scheme.
The Independent Custody Visiting (ICV) Scheme is where volunteers visit police stations to check on the welfare of people detained in custody by the police to see the conditions in which they are being held and to ensure their rights are being observed.
We are currently recruiting for volunteers to join the Portsmouth Panel.
The Scheme covers the custody suites in Basingstoke, Southampton, Portsmouth and Newport on the Isle of Wight. Each custody suite has an Independent Custody Visitors (ICVs) Panel led by an ICV Coordinator who provides support to the ICV volunteers in their team.
ICVs are appointed, trained and overseen by the OPCC Scheme Managers and are totally independent of the police force.
Aims of the Scheme
The ICV Scheme aims to give confidence to local people regarding the custody facilities, welfare, rights and entitlements of detainees. This offers protection to both detainees and the police and allows local people an insight into conditions in custody.
The Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) is legally responsible for the delivery of the Independent Custody Visiting Scheme. The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) is run by a dedicated team who support the PCC. The role of the PCC is to be the voice of local people in policing and to hold the Chief Constable to account. The aim of all PCCs is to ensure the delivery of an effective and efficient police service within their force area. The ICVs make regular reports to the PCC and these are summarised in annual reports providing a summary of the results found in custody.
Join the scheme
Are you someone wanting to make a difference? Would you like an insight into the criminal justice system to ensure the protection of detainees in custody suites?
We are currently recruiting for volunteers to join the Portsmouth and Basingstoke Panels. Please visit our recruitment page for details of how join.
Diversity Statement
Hampshire and Isle of Wight OPCCs Independent Custody Visiting Scheme is firmly committed to promoting equality of opportunity for all local people and communities. It aims to ensure that in its organisational structures, decision making processes, ways of working, communicating and managing, diversity is welcomed and embraced. The OPCC shall treat all individuals, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation with dignity and respect. It shall provide a working environment which is free from harassment, bullying, victimisation or discrimination. In all our contacts with members of the community the principles of respect, dignity and fairness will be upheld. Staff and volunteers of the OPCC will demonstrate their commitment to this statement by ensuring that all policies and procedures reflect these aims and by challenging any behaviour which fails to uphold these principles. Hampshire and Isle of Wight OPCC extends this commitment to cover all aspects of diversity.
Racism and discrimination of any sort have no place in our society and no place at Hampshire and Isle of Wight Independent Custody Visiting Scheme. We all have a personal and professional duty to know where inequality persists and to call it out if we see it. We must address these issues together, as colleagues and as citizens, to make society fairer and to support each other. Independent Custody Visiting schemes have a unique position in terms of ensuring the equitable and respectful treatment in an often hidden, and high-pressure area of policing. We promise to challenge injustice, ensure fairness and to uphold anti-racist principles in both our organisation and our communities. For more information, you can read our Anti –Racism Policy here.
Independent Custody Visitors Association (ICVA)
The Independent Custody Visitors Association (ICVA) is a Home Office, Policing Authority and Police and Crime Commissioner funded membership organisation set up to lead, support and represent PCC and Policing Authority led schemes.
ICVA: Quality Assurance Framework Award
In 2023, the Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner for Hampshire and Isle of Wight was recognised nationally for the high quality of its independent custody visiting scheme.
The Independent Custody Visiting Association (ICVA) – the national membership organisation has a quality assurance framework to assess how well schemes comply with the Home Office Code of Practice that governs independent custody visiting, and the standard of volunteer management. The Silver award recognises a ‘good level of custody visiting and volunteer management’ and demonstrates how volunteer feedback is use to uphold standards of dignity and safety in police custody.
