Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner David Sidwick has issued an appeal for volunteers to join the Custody Visiting Scheme.

Independent Custody Visitors (ICVs) provide an independent check on the welfare of people who are detained in custody, ensuring they have been given all the required legal information and are being treated with dignity.

Every PCC has a statutory duty to run an Independent Custody Visiting scheme.

The Dorset scheme co-ordinates local volunteers to make unannounced visits, in pairs, to the custody suites in Bournemouth, Weymouth, and Poole.

Natalie Hill, 28, from Bournemouth works in social housing and has been volunteering for the scheme in her spare time, since 2017.

Natalie says that detainees can be very vulnerable at the time: “it’s sort of an unknown for that person, they know why they’re there but they may not know what happens next, especially if it’s their first time in custody.

“You meet some people who are going through quite a distressing period of time.

“I think that sometimes comes as a bit of a surprise that somebody cares about them at this point in time and because we are independent it gives them that opportunity to raise things that they wouldn’t feel comfortable raising with the police themselves.”

During her time as an ICV, Natalie has helped detainees with a number of issues including the provision of sanitary products to female detainees, which prior to a few years ago, weren’t available.

She said: “We are not there to talk about the reasons why they are there, it is literally about how they’ve been treated and their rights.”

The volunteers also help identify the needs of those for whom English isn’t their first language.

Volunteers take part in one visit a month on a rota basis and also undertake training and meetings throughout the year.

The Dorset scheme was the only one to continue in person visits during lockdown with volunteers social distancing.

Natalie says, “During that time, we were able to offer a really good insight into how custody in particular and the care of detainees was responding to the pandemic and report back on a wider basis.”

The volunteers provide public reassurance that custody is safe and dignified.

David Sidwick, Police and Crime Commissioner for Dorset, said: “Independent custody visiting schemes are not widely known about but they are incredibly important.

“Our volunteers, and those in schemes across the country, make sure people in police custody – who often have will not have been charged with any offence – have their rights and dignity respected and that the police are doing their job properly.

“Although they’re volunteers, they are highly trained individuals and the work they do can make a real difference, so I’d urge anyone who is interested to see if the role is for them.”

Anyone who would like to make further enquiries about the scheme should email: pcc@dorset.pnn.police.uk.