Independent Police Complaints Commission
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IPCC investigation recommends improvement to Hertfordshire custody policies
The IPCC has recommended improvements to custody suite policies in Hertfordshire Police stations after an investigation into how a woman managed to take concealed tablets three times while under arrest.
The woman and two men were arrested for shoplifting in January 2015. During the arrest the woman took what she described as medication. Once escorted to custody at Stevenage police station she took another tablet as well as passing one to one of the men who were also arrested. The woman was subsequently placed in a holding area and while unsupervised took a further tablet. After being placed in a cell, she became unwell and was taken to hospital where she recovered and was subsequently taken back into custody.
The investigation found two officers had a case to answer for misconduct for allowing the detainees to take tablets following their arrest, not searching the detainees, not telling the custody sergeant they had taken anything, allowing the detainees to remain together in the custody suite and attending to their personal mobile phones instead of supervising the detainees.
The IPCC recommended that Hertfordshire Police needed clearer guidelines for officers relating to who is allowed to be in the custody suite, and for making officers and staff better aware of their roles and responsibilities once a detainee is brought to the custody suite. Hertfordshire Police should also make clear to all officers when it is not appropriate to use their personal mobile phones on duty.
Both officers had the case for misconduct proven at a meeting run by Hertfordshire Police but no further action was taken. The IPCC was also critical of the force’s delay in referring the incident.
IPCC Associate Commissioner Guido Liguori said:
“While in this instance the woman made a full recovery, similar failings could potentially lead to more tragic consequences. Officers and staff need to be vigilant when arresting suspects, and conduct timely searches to ensure illicit medication or drugs are not able to be consumed after arrest or in custody.
“I have also asked the College of Policing to consider national guidance about roles and responsibilities of officers and staff while detainees are in holding areas of a custody suite.”
The IPCC has made a series of recommendations from past investigations across England and Wales which contributed to improved guidance on detention and custody issued by the College of Policing last year.
The full IPCC investigation report is available here.
