Police and Crime Commissioner for West Yorkshire | WYPCC

PCC’s Office wins prestigious national award for custody visiting

16 May 2019

The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) for West Yorkshire has won a Gold Standard Quality Assurance award for the quality of its independent custody visiting scheme. The Quality Assurance awards were introduced by The Independent Custody Visiting Association (ICVA) to help schemes:

Reflect on how they comply with the Code of Practice, the legislation that underpins custody visiting.

Celebrate areas of strength.

Promote custody visiting and the achievements schemes have made.

Drive performance and increase sharing of good practice

The inaugural awards were presented at a ceremony at the House of Lords on Wednesday 15 May.

Independent Custody Visitors (ICV) are volunteer members of the public who visit police stations unannounced to check on the rights, well-being and dignity of detainees held in police custody, reporting their findings to the Police and Crime Commissioner who in turn holds the Chief Constable to account.

Welcoming the award, Mark Burns-Williamson, Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for West Yorkshire, said: "Here in West Yorkshire we have a truly dedicated team of Independent Custody Visitors who selflessly give up their time to make a real difference to policing in on behalf of our communities.

"This award is for all our ICV volunteers and our hard working OPCC staff. I am proud that the Gold standard award reflects their hard work and commitment to our scheme, my thanks goes to each and every one of them for the difference they continue to make."

Martyn Underhill, Chairman of ICVA, said: "These awards recognise the standard of scheme being run in the area, and help drive up the standards of our schemes across the UK. Warm congratulations to all of the winners."

Katie Kempen, Chief Executive at ICVA said: "Independent custody visiting schemes ensure that the public have oversight of a high pressure and often hidden area of policing. These awards demonstrate how local schemes use volunteer feedback to make change and ensure that police custody is safe and dignified for all. I congratulate schemes on their accomplishments."

If you would like to become an ICV in West Yorkshire, or to find out more about this rewarding volunteer opportunity please visit /get-involved/custody-visiting.aspx or call 01924 294000.