Thematic inspection on the welfare of vulnerable people in police custody Heather Hurford Lead Inspector

Overview Home Secretary commission to HMIC background Approach + timescale definitions Joint inspections of police custody Thematic inspections Related national work Final report

Purpose of vulnerability thematic Home Secretary commissioned HMIC January 2014 Scope to include – but not limited to: those with mental health problems, those from black and minority ethnic backgrounds children In depth thematic review Highlight good practice and make national recommendations

Background to thematic National reviews – Bradley (2009); IPCC (2010); Howard League (2013); ICMHP (2013) identified risk factors in police custody 2011 – present - further 66 deaths in police custody or following contact HMIC - Who’s looking out for the children? (2011); A criminal use of police cells? (2013); A joint inspection of the treatment of offenders with learning disabilities within the criminal justice system (2014) Academic research Recurring concerns: o Over representation of certain groups in the CJ system o Treatment of children in custody o Use of force o Risk assessments – quality and communication o Intoxication + mental vulnerability

Data on police custody population No national collection of police custody data Arrest data = proxy – but excludes non-notifiable offences Total arrests Age profile Gender as % Ethnicity as % Stop and searches by ethnicity Research findings on children detained overnight (Skinns 2013) Section 136 detentions under the Mental Health Act and use of police custody as place of safety

Methodology Rapid evidence assessment (phase 1) Map risks against custody process/pathway Identified risks Lines of enquiry & assessment criteria 6 force inspections embedded within rolling custody programme + additional fieldwork strands 1.Review of data capture and flows 2.Voice of the detainee 3.Interviews with key individuals/organisations Collate findings Final report with national recommendations Expert reference group Expert reference group

Key definitions 1 - vulnerability This inspection will use the examples of people with mental health problems, people from black and minority ethnic communities and children to explore how far police forces respond to vulnerability in a manner appropriate to individual rights and circumstances, within the requirements of the legislative and policy framework. use an in depth focus on decision making and risk assessment as a dynamic process, together with findings from related inspections, to extrapolate to wider aspects of vulnerability in police custody.

Key definitions 2 – custody Role of frontline officers and staff currently out of scope on custody inspections Phase one rapid evidence assessment highlights risks in custody from first point of contact ‘from the moment of arrest to that of release or transfer there is a risk of mistreatment.’ (Association for the Prevention of Torture) IPCC investigations include deaths which occur whilst a person is being arrested or taken into detention This inspection will consider the complete ‘pathway’ of police custody from the first point of contact to release or transfer

Inspection question How effective are police services at identifying and responding to vulnerabilities and associated risks to the welfare of detainees in police custody? Subset of key questions Lines of enquiry Assessment criteria 3 core focus areas: i.Point of arrest to custody suite ii.In the custody suite iii.Pre release/transfer and aftercare

Timescale June – AugConsultation and methodology development Sept – JanFieldwork Feb 2015Report writing Mar 2015Report sign off and publication

Joint inspections of police custody HMIC/HMIP + CQC OPCAT 6 year rolling programme – started 2008 Unannounced Published inspection reports Make recommendations and highlight good practice Action plan visits 12 months after inspection All forces now visited at least once – new cycle underway

Joint inspections of police custody – Framework and approach Focused on outcomes for detainees Published ‘Expectations’ Strategy Treatment and conditions Individual rights healthcare Referenced to existing legislation and policy obligations Multi professional inspection team Interviews, observations, custody record analysis Feedback during inspection

Thematic custody inspections Based on rolling programme model + Additional evidence based assessment criteria Control centres/frontline response Partner agencies Bespoke data collection Expanded inspection team

Thematic – key lines of enquiry How is vulnerability identified and addressed? Available diversion opportunities Access to supporting services Risk assessment Effectiveness of partnership arrangements Use of force Monitoring mechanisms

Home Secretary announcements – Mental health and policing summit Oct 23 Related national work - context

Related national work – custody inspections HMIP review of Expectations for Police Custody College of Policing/ACPO review of Authorised Professional Practice for detention and custody HMIC PEEL programme + thematic findings = changes to custody inspection programme likely in 2015/16

Thematic final report Thematic findings from inspections Case studies and detainee voice project to spotlight impact on and outcomes for individuals Custody data statement Pilot model for ‘key statistics on police custody’ Good practice examples National recommendations

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