Under the scrutiny requirements of the UN Optional Protocol against Torture, the UK has an obligation to ensure regular and independent inspection of all places of detention. To meet this requirement HMIC and HMIP have established a programme of inspections of custody conditions in all police forces and London Borough commands.
At an average of 12 inspections per year, the programme is expected to take five to six years to deliver. Each year will be a mix of announced and unannounced inspections – with individual published reports for each inspection and periodic ‘thematic reports’ on emerging trends or findings of particular importance. The inspections look not only at the implementation of statutory requirements, but also at the conditions of detention and the treatment of detainees.
Memorandum of Understanding on the Joint Inspection of Police Custody Conditions in England and Wales
Expectations for Police Custody - January 2010
Reports:
Cambridgeshire - November 2008
Gloucestershire - July 2008
West Yorkshire - October 2008
Hillingdon BCU - June 2008
Islington BCU - May 2008
Southwark BCU - April 2008
Durham - September 2008
Hertfordshire – January 2009
Tower Hamlets - July 2009
Ealing - July 2009
Lambeth - June 2009
Enfield - May 2009
Leicestershire - August 2009
Cumbria - September 2009 Wiltshire - September 2009
Hackney - May 2010
Surrey - June 2010
North Yorkshire - June 2010
Wandsworth - June 2010