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Independent custody visitors

The main area that people can volunteer with the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner is as an independent custody visitor.

Independent custody visitors are members of the local community that visit police stations unannounced to check on the treatment of detainees, the conditions in which they are being held and ensure that their rights and entitlements are being observed.

Independent custody visitors (ICVs) come from a variety of backgrounds and sections of the community. They must be over 18 years old and, and as they must be independent of the police service, serving police officers and others who work in the policing family (Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner staff, Special Constables, lay justices or members of the Police and Crime Panel) cannot undertake this role.

They must live or work in the area of Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly and have been resident in the UK for the past three years prior to application.

Watch our video on Independent Custody Visitors (ICVs) visiting a triage centre used during the G7 Summit - YouTube