Inside this issue

ICVA National Conference

“Alistair Finlay, the Assistant Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland said that as custody is one of the more opaque aspects of policing we have to make sure that the system in which we operate is transparent. ICVs ought to know what is going on once the

detainee leaves the police van and is then processed into the system; he also said that accountability was crucial. He praised us for our time and dedication, stating he was immensely grateful for our input. “David Anderson QC, Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation spoke eloquently on detention under PACE Code H. He also raised the idea of working alongside those ICVs who visit terrorist detainees. “John Drew, the Chief Executive of the Youth Justice Board, focused on the data surrounding young people in the Criminal Justice System (CJS), most of whom were excluded from school, were in authority care, have speech, communications difficulties, emotional and mental health problems. He was particularly concerned about the age, vulnerability and the lack of involvement from the families of young people in the CJS. “Andrew Alexander, Head of Police Transparency Unit at the Home Office spoke about the ongoing development of the role of ICVs and the introduction of PCCs which he maintains will not adversely affect the current role of ICVs. The

On 19th November the city of Belfast was host to the 2011 ICVA National Conference. ICVs from all over the UK attended, including 6 from the London ICV Scheme. Jennifer Waldron, member of the Westminster ICV panel, gives her account of the

day.

“The conference was well attended by delegates from across the country – it was nice to meet ICVs from different areas, the interaction was particularly important for exchanging ideas and experiences of custody visiting. “Brian Rea, chairman of the Northern Ireland Policing Board (NIPB), opened the conference with a warm welcome, being generous in his praise for what we do, stressing the work, dedication and commitment in tackling the issues of human rights and the welfare of detainees in custody. He reminded us that in some countries detainees are removed from the streets never to be seen or heard from again, which is why our work and resolve is so important and should be a beacon for others to follow.

question was asked whether ICVs can visit detainees in holding areas and police vans. The answer was left somewhat hanging in the air. “Other speakers included Kevin Downer, who oversees Custody visiting for NIPB, Rachel Forde who is currently an ICV with the NIPB and who gave an over view on visiting detainees in Northern Ireland, and finally, Mirjam Bader, a Youth Services Manager for Mindwise who gave her perspective on the mental health issues affecting detainees. “Overall, a very productive and worthwhile conference.” The presentations are available on the ICVA website http://www.icva.org.uk/

London ICV Newsletter

December 2011

MPOC and what this means for ICVs Refresher training— top tips

ICV Christmas Social

Contact details Welcome to New ICVs

Dates for the Diary And finally...

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MOPC and what it means for ICVs

London ICV Newsletter

.The New Year will see the abolition of the MPA and its replacement by the Mayor’s Office of Policing and Crime (MOPC). The statutory responsibility for running an effective custody visiting scheme will continue under MOPC as it has done under the MPA, essentially meaning there will be no change to the London ICV Scheme and custody visiting. However, the ICV Handbook is currently being reviewed so there may be some changes to ICV policies. The MOPC will

launch its own communications detailing how it will be operate in the New Year. ICV passes, which currently display an MPA logo, will need to be replaced by MOPC branded passes. The ICV Team is currently negotiating how this will be achieved with no inconvenience to ICVs.

More information about MOPC,

including some frequently asked

questions, is available on the MPA

website at http://www.mpa.gov.uk/

Refresher training—top tips!

This edition of “refresher training—top tips” is a reminder of confidentiality and what this means in practise for ICVs and custody visiting. Confidentiality is an ethnical principle, whereby, information is privileged and cannot be shared or discussed with third parties. In the custody visiting process ICVs must be able to maintain confidentiality in order for detainees and the public to have confidence in the ICV scheme. During a visit ICVs may acquire considerable personal information about people in police custody, the great majority of whom will not yet have appeared before a court (and many never will). Personal information relating to detainees must be protected against improper or unnecessary

disclosure to third parties and those outside of the custody visiting proc-ess. The Memorandum of Understanding signed by all ICVs on joining the scheme, and every single visit report forms includes an undertaking not to reveal the names of persons visited or other confidential information obtained in the course of a visit. Breach of this undertaking would almost certainly lead to suspension from the ICV scheme. Such a breach may also leave an ICV open to civil proceedings by the de-tained person concerned. Independ-ent Custody Visitors also need to be aware that the unauthorised disclo-sure of facts concerning police op-erations or the security of police stations may constitute an offence under section 5 of the Official Se-crets Act 1989.

For further information please refer to the ICV Handbook 7.4 and the National Standards for Independent Custody Visiting, para 42. If you have any concerns or questions around confidentiality please contact your panel coordinator.

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ICVs braved the weather on 12th December to attend the London ICV Scheme Christmas Social at City Hall. MPS custody staff and MPA members also attended to help cele-brate the festive season and thank ICVs for their hard work over the last year. The event was also the last social occasion of the MPA. MPA Member and Chair of the Community Engagement and Citizen Focus Sub-Committee Clive Lawton gave a short speech thanking ICVs for the great work they do and the dedication they give to the scheme. He also made presentations to three ICVs for

their long service.

The following ICVs were awarded a long service award on the night: Faisal Abdu’Allah from Brent, Richard Billington from Croydon and Vassiliki Stavrou from Kensington and Chelsea

We would also like to thank those who were also awarded an ICV long service award but did not attend the event: Alloysius Frederick from Brent Caroline Roberts from Wandsworth David Stockford from Hillingdon Susan Hopkins from Hillingdon Those who did not attend have been or will be given their awards at their panel meetings.

ICV Christmas Social

FREEPOST address for report forms and

application forms only: ICV Coordinator

Metropolitan Police Authority FREEPOST LON17808

London SW1H 0DY

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Annette Dhillon – 07768 905 678 annette.dhillon@mpa.gov.uk Barnet, Bromley, Enfield, Havering & Redbridge, Newham, Waltham Forest. Florence Haynes - 07768 868 055 Florence.Haynes@mpa.gov.uk Har row, L ambeth , Lewi sham, Southwark, Sutton and Merton. Jennifer Ankrah ‐ 07768 902 575 jennifer.ankrah@mpa.gov.uk Barking & Dagenham, Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington & Chelsea, R i c hmo n d , T owe r H am l e t s , Westminster. Mike Dodsworth ‐ 07768 886 278 mike.dodsworth@mpa.gov.uk Bexley, Brent, Ealing, Greenwich Hillingdon, Kingston. Tony Hawker ‐ 07768 904 270 or tony.hawker@mpa.gov.uk Camden, Croydon, Hackney, Haringey, Islington, Wandsworth. ICV Scheme Manager: James Tate ‐ james.tate@mpa.gov.uk Hounslow.

Coordinator contacts

Dates for your diary

Contacts

And finally...

The MPA and the ICV team.

Welcome to new ICVs!

Below are the 2012 dates for training sessions and meetings at the MPA (MOPC) offices. Initial training: Mon 6 and 13 Feb, 6—8.45pm. Saturday 19 May, 10am—4pm. Mon 24 Sept and 1 Oct, 6-8.45pm. Saturday 24 Nov, 10am—4pm.

Diversity training: Tuesday 31 Jan, 6.30-8.45pm. Monday 25 Jun, 6.30-8.45pm Monday 12 Nov, 6.30-8.45pm. Chairs training (provisional) 26 or 27 March, 6.30-8.45pm 3 Sept, 6.30-8.45pm Chairs meetings Tues 3 April, 6.30—8.30pm Thurs 4 Oct, 6.30—8.30pm. .

A big thank you to all ICVs for your hard work and dedication throughout 2011. It is with your help that the MPA can ensure that detainees in London’s cus-tody suites are being treated fairly and in accordance with PACE. A Merry Christmas and Happy New year to all!

Bexley Tina Curtis Bromley Suzi Daley Croydon Terri Douglas Ealing Mike Garner John Kerr Mark Burgess Peter Skibinski Hackney Elaine Smith, Joscelyn Dickens Lambeth Valerie Lindo Lewisham James Waller Wandsworth Janet Anacoura