Volunteers needed to carry out welfare checks on detainees in custody
Norfolk’s Police and Crime Commissioner is looking for community-minded volunteers to become Independent Custody Visitors (ICVs).
ICVs visit police custody facilities unannounced and in pairs to check on the treatment of those detained there and the conditions in which they are held.
Norfolk currently has 24 volunteers and in 2024, nearly 250 people detained by police received a welfare check from ICVs at one of the county’s four Police Investigation Centres in King’s Lynn, Aylsham, Great Yarmouth and Wymondham.
The current custody visiting vacancies are based in Aylsham.
Custody volunteer Joana Bicker
Joana Bicker has been an ICV since March 2022. She is based in Great Yarmouth and decided to become a volunteer after she saw first-hand the impact someone being taken into custody can have on themselves and their family and friends.
“I wanted to give back to society. When I got a call to say they were in custody I couldn’t believe it but the people in the PIC were so nice. I really appreciated all of them for the way they dealt with the situation, and it made me want to give something back.”
Custody visiting volunteer George Garamukanwa
George Garamukanwa started with Joanna in March 2022. He also covers the Great Yarmouth area.
George said working in mental health as his day job has helped prepare him for the role.
“I wanted to ensure that people are being looked after, making sure people are getting good care, that their rights are observed.
“The visits I have been on have been very interesting and very diverse. I have been impressed by the collaboration with officers and the enthusiasm of the other volunteers.
“There are similarities sometimes to my day job in mental health. You are ensuring they are being looked after and their dignity has been respected. Looking after peoples’ welfare and ensuring that the right scrutiny is in place, that’s what I enjoy the most.”
Norfolk’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), who runs the county’s custody visiting scheme, is putting out a call for those interested in a truly unique volunteering opportunity to get in touch.
PCC Sarah Taylor said: “The police power to detain people, removing their liberty, is a power that we the public can only trust if it works fairly, within the law, and when people detained are treated with dignity and respect. For these reasons, among others, I have a duty to operate an Independent Custody Visiting scheme in Norfolk to provide valuable insight and oversight of the way that people are detained. The visitors volunteer their time to ensure that safeguarding checks are carried out both for detainees and the police and, over the years, they have been instrumental in bringing about meaningful improvements in custody arrangements in the county.
“The commitment and diligence of Norfolk’s independent custody visitors offer the public reassurance that the police are treating people with dignity and respect. I have spoken with volunteers who have initially signed up for many reasons, from wanting an insight to policing to support their degree studies, through to recent retirees wanting to give some of their newly free time to give back to their local community. Whatever your motivation, if you would like to make a difference to people’s lives, I would love to hear from you.”
More information
Applications are being invited from individuals interested in joining the custody visiting panels in the county.
To apply, you must be over 18, live in Norfolk and have lived in the UK for more than three years. Although this is a voluntary role, expenses are paid.
Successful applicants will need to attend an initial training course to prepare them for the role and complete a six-month probationary period in order to be fully accredited.