The Independent Custody Visiting Scheme
The Independent Custody Visiting (ICV) Scheme allows trained volunteers to visit police custody suites to ensure the welfare and rights of individuals detained in police custody are upheld. The ICVs make weekly unannounced visits to check on detainees’ conditions, including their treatment, access to legal advice, and overall well-being. The scheme promotes transparency, accountability, and public confidence in the police service, helping to ensure that detention procedures are fair and humane.
We are not currently recruiting for the ICV role.
The Scheme covers the custody units in Bridgwater, Keynsham and Patchway. Each area has an Independent Custody Visitors (ICVs) Panel led by an ICV Coordinator who provides support to the ICV volunteers in their team.
For more information, please see our ICV Handbook (PDF)
Aims of the scheme
The ICV Scheme aims to give confidence to local people regarding the custody facilities, welfare, rights and entitlements of detainees. This offers protection to both detainees and the police and allows local people an insight into conditions in custody.
The Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) is legally responsible for the delivery of the Independent Custody Visiting Scheme.
The ICV panel produce annual reports providing a summary of the results found in custody. View the ICV Annual Reports.
For further information about the aims and objectives, read the role profile (PDF).
What does volunteering involve?
Custody visits will take place roughly once a month, in pairs, and a Rota which covers a three month period will be sent to you.
Custody visits are within a seven day time period they can be in the daytime or evening to suit your personal schedule.
There will be panel meetings three times per year where ICVs can talk about any custody visiting matters. Online Bitesize training sessions produced by The Independent Custody Visiting Association (ICVA), alongside a whole host of guidance and additional resources are regularly circulated by Scheme Managers to support ICVs learning and to assist with their visits in custody.
“After 10 years of uninterrupted ICV volunteering, I still get a fulfilment from every different custody visit, this is because I am able to call upon my life’s experiences, to resolve any issues with custody staff for detained persons, which includes, juveniles, vulnerable adults, female/male/non binary adults, some of whom are affected by mental health issues. The appreciation that is shown when we self-introduce ourselves upon entering a cell makes the role incredibly rewarding.” ICV volunteer