Vacancy Information

The Office of the Sussex PCC manages up to 40 dedicated volunteers who undertake vital duties for its Independent Custody Visiting (ICV) scheme.

Representatives from the community are recruited and appointed on a geographical basis to visit the five police custody centres in Sussex (Brighton, Crawley, Eastbourne, Hastings and Worthing).

Unannounced visits are made by pairs of visitors at varying times of the day and night to ensure a consistent pattern of visits. After every visit, the pair of visitors complete a written report form about their findings, which is then passed onto the ICV Scheme Manager at the Office of the Sussex PCC.

The Role & Key Responsibilities

Independent Custody Visitors (ICVs) are members of the local community who volunteer to visit police stations unannounced to check on the treatment & welfare of people held in police custody. ICV recommendations can require the police to make improvements for the welfare of detainees.

Working as part of a local panel, they play a valuable role in maintaining public confidence in this important area of policing by making sure that detainees are treated well.

Skills & Experience

1. To arrange custody visits with fellow custody visitors, in line with agreed rotas.

2. To keep the Coordinator & fellow custody visitors informed of any problems or changes to the visiting rota.

3. To carry out custody visits to designated police stations in line with the scheme guidelines, handbook &; training.

4. To check on the conditions in which a detainee is kept, their health & wellbeing & their legal rights & entitlements, with reference to PACE code C.

5. Where appropriate to consult the detainee's custody record to clarify & check any concerns raised by the detainee.

6. To discuss with the custody officer any concerns & requests arising from the custody visit & bring to the custody officer's attention any issue that needs to be dealt with.

7. To complete the Independent Custody Visitor Report Form, ensuring that all relevant information is recorded correctly, clearly & concisely.

8. To distribute copies of the Independent Custody Visitor Report Form to the appropriate people.

9. To complete & submit expense claims in line with the scheme guidelines.

10. To attend continuous training sessions as appropriate.

11. To attend 6 monthly panel meetings of the Independent Custody Visitors.

12. To carry out the duties of an Independent Custody Visitor with regard to the Health & Safety requirements of the custody visiting scheme.

Essential Criteria;

• Must be at least 18 years of age
• Must live (or work) in the Sussex Police area
• To demonstrate sufficient time & flexibility to carry out the role of custody visiting
• To work with colleagues as part of a team to meet the Scheme’s agreed visiting programme
• To be able to communicate well both orally & in writing
• To demonstrate the ability to complete forms clearly & concisely
• To be able to communicate effectively with people from a variety of backgrounds
• To demonstrate an independent & impartial view in relation to all parties involved in the custody visiting process
• To be able to maintain confidentiality

Further Information

Claire Taylor

Independent Custody Visiting Scheme Manager

A: Sackville House, Brooks Close, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 2FZ

P: 07925 035053

 

Diversity Statement

We are only as good as our people.  It's important that our officers and staff can be themselves in the workplace and we know that as an organisation we'll grow from the variety of thinking, approach, and the skills that diversity brings; all of which help us to deliver a better policing service. We strive to ensure how we deliver our services, provide information and how we recruit is open and accessible to all.

We have multiple staff support groups who help to improve our understanding of minority issues and ensure they are reflected in our work. We are proud members of Disability Confident, hold Race Equality Matters Trailblazer status, are a signatory of the Race at Work Charter and are aligned with the Armed Forces Covenant and the HeForShe movement.

We are committed to being an anti-racist police service. 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 full anti-racism statement here.

We value the differences that people bring from all backgrounds and communities. Regardless of age, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, disability, social status, or religious belief, we would love to hear from you.

Please use the following links to find out more on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at Surrey Police and Sussex Police

Additional Information

Following submission of your application you will receive a confirmation email with a copy of your application attached. Occasionally emails from this address can fall into spam/junk folders so please ensure this is checked regularly. You may wish to consider adding noreply@surreysussexpolice.as.recruitmail.com to your address/contact list to ensure you receive all communications.