Recommendation 1
The IOPC recommends that Devon and Cornwall Police ensure that the time a check is conducted on a prisoner is recorded on the custody record in addition to the computer generated time shown when the update is added.
The detention officers at Charles Cross custody suite are allocated specific roles on a daily basis and one will be assigned to conducting checks on prisoners in detention. A Detention Officer who submitted a statement in relation to this investigation has explained that having completed all of the cell visits, they return to the main office to update the electronic detention logs for each person detained. The time on the log is recorded as the time the entry is made on the log and not the time the check was conducted.
Comparison between custody records and CCTV has shown that this results in a time discrepancy and it can appear from the custody record that the time between visits sometimes exceeds the minimum requirements which in this case were every 30 minutes.
The Detention and Custody Authorised Professional Practice (APP) states that the Custody Officer is responsible for managing the supervision levels of each detainee and they will need an accurate record to fulfil this responsibility. The APP also states that forces should put in place audit and inspection regimes of custody records that ensure (amongst other things) that notes are contemporaneous, or recorded as soon as possible. The actual time the visit took place will be required to meet this responsibility.
Do you accept the recommendation?
Yes
Addressed to: Devon and Cornwall Police
Linked bodies:
Devon and Cornwall Police