It is the statutory duty of Cambridgeshire Police Authority to administer and monitor the Independent Custody Visiting Scheme for the county.

Independent Custody Visitors (ICVs) are volunteers from the local community who make unannounced visits in pairs to custody suites of police stations to check on the welfare of detainees and the conditions under which they are detained. The purpose of the ICVs' role is to act as an independent monitor of police custody areas and to comment on whether PACE (Police and Criminal Evidence Act) guidelines are being met.

At the end of each visit a report is handed to the Custody Sergeant so that any immediate issues can be addressed. Independent Custody Visitors also report their findings back to the Police Authority’s Custody Visitors Panel and subsequently the Professional Standards Committee so that any ongoing problems or issues can be addressed.

A full summary is contained within the Custody Visiting Scheme Annual Report, which can be found in the Policies, Plans & Reports section.

If you are interested in applying to become an Independent Custody Visitor please contact:

The Scheme Administrator
Cambridgeshire Police Authority,
Room G038,
Cambridgeshire Constabulary Headquarters,
Hinchingbrooke Park,
Huntingdon, PE29 6NP.

Tel: 0300 333 3456

police.authority@cambs.pnn.police.uk

For further information contact:

The Scheme Administrator (as above) or log onto the Independent Custody Visiting Association website - www.icva.org.uk