Commissioner vows to improve West Mercia Police custody after Inspectorate raises serious safety and welfare concerns - The Malvern Observer

Commissioner vows to improve West Mercia Police custody after Inspectorate raises serious safety and welfare concerns

Malvern Editorial 26th Apr, 2022   0

APPROPRIATE care for detainees in police custody is non-negotiable, says West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion.

His demand comes after a report by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) raised serious areas of concern around legal rights, safety and welfare for those detained in West Mercia Police’s custody.

The report said the force did not have enough oversight over how custody is provided, with no clear direction over how custody and detention officers carry out their roles and responsibilities.

This can lead to staff carrying out tasks they are not responsible for, or best suited to, it added.




The report also found the West Mercia is not always meeting the requirements regarding the detention, treatment and questioning of persons, particularly in terms of providing detainees with information about their rights and entitlements. It is also not complying with a section of the Children and Young Persons Act for the care of girls in custody.

The report said the force should take immediate action to ensure all custody procedures and practices comply with legislation and guidance.


Regarding use of force in custody, inspectors said governance and oversight of its use in custody was limited.

Information on what force is used, by which officers, or why it is necessary, is often incomplete or inaccurate.

There were also few reviews of incidents on CCTV to assess how well they are handled or whether the force used was necessary, justified and proportionate.

The report also said it found poor practice in aspects of how West Mercia deals with detainee safety.

It called for the force to ‘take immediate action to mitigate the risk to detainees by ensuring that its risk management practices are safe, follow guidance, and are consistently carried out to the required standard’.

It added that detainee care was poor and that food and drink were not proactively offered or provided.

Detainee access to other aspects of care, such as washing, showers, exercise, reading materials and other distraction activities, was also very limited.

In addition it said the force should systematically identify and monitor delays in Mental Health Act assessments and transfers to hospital for detainees who need them.

PCC Campion said: “West Mercia Police have a duty to those in their care, and the findings of this report are not good enough.

“These are issues that the force and I, are already aware of. I am reassured by the action that is already being taken.

“The report highlighted that a clear structure is in place and highlighted some good practice.

“The force must build on this, and their swift response gives me hope that they will deliver.”

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