Want to make a difference? Volunteer as a Custody Visitor

11 May 2023

Want to make a difference? Volunteer as a Custody Visitor

“I feel valued, and that I add value to the experience felt by detained people.” - that’s the feedback from a current Independent Custody Visitor as a recruitment campaign launches.

Independent Custody Visitors, or ICVs for short, make unannounced visits to police custody suites to check on the dignity, rights and welfare of detainees.

ICVs are volunteers and completely independent of the police service.

They observe, comment and report on the conditions experienced by those in custody, ensuring they understand their rights and entitlements.

The West Yorkshire Combined Authority Policing and Crime Team, who run the ICV scheme, are calling for interested members of our communities to apply.

ICV, Val, said:

“ICVs are so important because we are members of the public. We don’t wear a uniform, we don’t know why you’ve been locked up, we don’t want to know. We are just interested in your welfare and that you’ve had all your rights, and you’re being looked after.

“It is nice to be able to speak to people and reassure them that somebody from the public, outside, nothing to do with the police have come in to see them.”