Ensuring that people in police custody are treated properly is a statutory duty of Tim Passmore, the Police and Crime Commissioner and he relies on an army of volunteers to help him monitor the welfare of people who are detained in police stations in Suffolk.
Tim Passmore is looking for additional volunteer custody visitors to make regular unannounced visits to Police Investigation Centres. The volunteers will be required to look, listen and report on their findings to the PCC to ensure that the police are providing the service that is expected of them.
Tim Passmore said, “Suffolk has two Police Investigation Centres in Suffolk – one in Bury St Edmunds and one at Martlesham, Ipswich – and we are looking to recruit two people to each of those visiting panels. I need the overall panel of visitors to be representative of the local community, so I would really encourage interest from younger people and black and minority ethnic residents. We have a great team of custody visitors in Suffolk, who give their time to support this valuable service and I thank them for their commitment which does not always receive the recognition it deserves.”
Volunteers are required to attend an initial training session of half a day and then receive training by observing existing visitors until confident in performing the role. Visitors carry out approximately one visit per month (as part of a panel carrying out the weekly visits), there are quarterly panel meetings which are held in the evening and then 1-2 training days/conference per year. The role is voluntary but we do pay expenses for travel costs. Applicants must be over 18 years of age and appointments are subject to police vetting checks and references.
For more information about the role or for a hard copy of the application pack please contact the Police and Crime Commissioner:
Telephone: 01473 782773 Email: spcc@suffolk.pnn.police.uk
or write to: The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, Police Headquarters, Portal Avenue, Martlesham Heath, Ipswich IP5 3QS
