NICOTINE tablets and a sink for religious foot-washing are among the facilities Somerset police officers have to provide for people remanded in custody.

Avon and Somerset Constabulary’s custody units are subject to regular unannounced inspections to ensure people who have been arrested and detained are treated properly.

Members of the Independent Custody Visiting Scheme (ICVS) have generally praised the force’s performance in catering to people’s needs, singling out its work for female inmates, non-English speakers and those with mental health difficulties.

But inspectors have raised concerns about vulnerable adults having to wait a long time for “appropriate adults” to arrive and support them.

A report on the unannounced inspections came before a police and crime panel meeting in Taunton on Wednesday morning (June 26).

The ICVS carries out inspections to ensure that “detainees in custody are held in safe and appropriate conditions for their best welfare, and in accordance with their rights and entitlements.”

Inspectors typically visited Avon and Somerset’s three custody facilities – in Bridgwater, Keynsham and Patchway – once every four days in 2018/19, visiting more than 1,100 detainees and speaking to police mental health practitioners and other staff in the process.

John Smith, chief executive to the police and crime commissioner, said in his written report that the inspectors had not received any reports of “unfair or disrespectful treatment of detainees by custody officers or staff.”

The following areas had been singled out by inspectors for praise:

  • Menstrual care for female detainees
  • Communication with non-English speakers (e.g picture cards and translation sheets)
  • Health professionals and referral services working closely with custody staff
  • “Timely responses” for medication requests, including mental health medication
  • Religious material (known as “the faith box”) was kept “tidily and respectfully”
  • Provision was made for the religious washing of feet – by a custody officer leading a given detainee to a specific sink
  • Good use of the cell intercom system
  • Nicotine tablets being provided for smokers

Mr Smith added that inspectors had “given compliments” to detention officers for the respect they showed towards detainees during their visits.

However, the IVCS did raise concern about Avon and Somerset’s performance in two areas.

One related to the long waits vulnerable detainees faced for “appropriate adults” to arrive – an appropriate adult being a parent, guardian, social worker or failing that any responsible individual over the age of 18.

The other related to “liquid or substances on the cell floor” caused by the detainee which created a “danger of slippage” for both the detainee and custody officials.

Mr Smith said this latter problem had been rectified through changes to the cleaning system in the custody suites.