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16/05/2002
Drive to recruit staff to check police custody procedures
The Northern Ireland Policing Board has launched a recruitment drive to attract people to a post which would involve scrutinising police holding procedures.
The Custody Visitor post has now been advertised by the Policing Board to attract an additional 50 people from local communities who, as part of a team, make unannounced visits to police stations in their areas to check and report on the treatment of people in custody and the conditions in which they are held.
The purpose of these visits, which can take place at any time, is to observe, comment and report on how people who are being held in custody are being looked after by the police. Checking on the welfare of people held in police custody involves speaking to detainees and inspecting the conditions in which they are being held.
Commenting on the latest recruitment drive, Chairman of the Policing Board, Professor Desmond Rea, said: “Custody visitors provide a vital role in ensuring confidence in how the police treat people held in custody. The Board would encourage anyone interested in the welfare of others to become involved in the Scheme.
“Current custody visitors have reported great satisfaction from their involvement and by volunteering in this way, feel that they are making a valuable contribution, both to the community and to policing.”
Police officers, individuals closely related to PSNI officers, police support staff, people involved in the criminal justice system, members and staff of the Policing Board are not eligible to become custody visitors.
Applicants are not required to have previous experience of policing as full training is given.
An application form and fact sheet on the Customer Visiting Scheme can be obtained from the Policing Board website.
(AMcE)
The Custody Visitor post has now been advertised by the Policing Board to attract an additional 50 people from local communities who, as part of a team, make unannounced visits to police stations in their areas to check and report on the treatment of people in custody and the conditions in which they are held.
The purpose of these visits, which can take place at any time, is to observe, comment and report on how people who are being held in custody are being looked after by the police. Checking on the welfare of people held in police custody involves speaking to detainees and inspecting the conditions in which they are being held.
Commenting on the latest recruitment drive, Chairman of the Policing Board, Professor Desmond Rea, said: “Custody visitors provide a vital role in ensuring confidence in how the police treat people held in custody. The Board would encourage anyone interested in the welfare of others to become involved in the Scheme.
“Current custody visitors have reported great satisfaction from their involvement and by volunteering in this way, feel that they are making a valuable contribution, both to the community and to policing.”
Police officers, individuals closely related to PSNI officers, police support staff, people involved in the criminal justice system, members and staff of the Policing Board are not eligible to become custody visitors.
Applicants are not required to have previous experience of policing as full training is given.
An application form and fact sheet on the Customer Visiting Scheme can be obtained from the Policing Board website.
(AMcE)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:Gale, coastal severe gale, northwest winds ease from late afternoon. Scattered showers will fall as snow over the hills at first, becoming isolated from mid-afternoon. Maximum temperature 7 °C.Tonight:Showers, scattered in the evening, will clear by midnight leaving the night dry with clear spells. Cloud will spread east towards morning. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
