Custody Procedures

Request Number: FOI/14599

Category: Operational policing, Investigations and Events - Custody

Subject: Custody Procedures

Request and Answer: 

Request Details
Can you please confirm when a person is held in police custody what the procedures are for

Request 1
Access to a make or receive a phone call while in custody

Answer 1
Persons held in detention are treated in accordance with the Police and Criminal Evidence Order Codes of Practice.

https://www.justice-ni.gov.uk/articles/pace-codes-practice

Code C states:

“5.1 Any person arrested and held in custody at a police station or other premises may, on request, have one person known to them or likely to take an interest in their welfare informed at public  expense of their whereabouts as soon as practicable. If the person cannot be contacted the detainee may choose up to two alternatives. If they cannot be contacted, the person in charge of detention or the investigation has discretion to allow further attempts until the information has been conveyed. See Notes 5C and 5D.

5.2 The exercise of the above right in respect of each person nominated may be delayed only in accordance with Annex B.”

Generally speaking, beyond having someone informed they have been arrested, a detainee is facilitated in speaking with that person or other persons during the course of detention using either a phone at a booking in area or a portable phone in the police cell which can be brought to them, in most suites.

Likewise a detainee may have someone call the suite asking to speak with them, where possible this will be facilitated and the call passed to the individual either by bringing them to a phone at a desk or bringing a portable phone to them.

There may be times, such as when a person is involved in an investigation as a suspect, victim or witness, when it is not appropriate to allow the detainee to speak with them. There may be an initial delay in communication being facilitated, when authorised at the appropriate level, as in section 5.2 of code C above.

Request 2
Access to medical treatment while in custody

Answer 2
On initial booking in a risk assessment will be conducted by the Custody Officer to elicit if the detainee is suffering from any injuries or illness or needs medical attention. If required the detainee can be seen and assessed by a healthcare professional.

There are a range of healthcare professionals, doctors and nurses, who work across the custody estate. These professionals can provide assessment, some treatment in the police station where it might be appropriate or refer detainees to external facilities such as A & E when the need arises. In addition to the presence of healthcare professionals, Custody staff are all first aid trained.