South Wales Police Authority

There are 24 volunteers who form the East Panel of Independent Custody Visitors, who all come from the Cardiff, Vale of Glamorgan, Merthyr Tydfil and Rhondda Cynon Taf area.

 

The East Panel covers five police station custody suites:

 

Each station is visited on average once each week, except for Aberdare which is a ‘non-designated’ station. This means it is only used on rare occasions, and is visited once every four weeks.

 

The visitors are supported by a Police Authority Member – John Littlechild – who is the Chair of the Panel, and Sue Poole, who is the Panel Co-Ordinator.

 

 

We are lucky to have a very low number of volunteers leave the scheme. Many of the visitors have been involved for a number of years.

As a Police Authority, we are grateful to all our dedicated volunteers who are part of this scheme.

 

 

Paul Jones

 

Paul Jones began with the custody visiting scheme in October 2001. He works full time with a Housing Association, and arranges visits around his commitments. He is also a volunteer with the Police Authority’s Animal Welfare Scheme and a Chair of his local PACT meeting.

 

“I got involved because it sounded different and interesting, and I wanted to do something that benefited the community. The scheme gives the public awareness that people in detention are being treated properly. Being a visitor is fascinating – it is something completely different.

 

"The best part about the scheme is the ability to provide reassurance to the communities and the Police Authority that anyone being detained is held in accordance with agreed standards.

 

“I feel the scheme assists the officers of South Wales Police in helping to raise the standards of custody suites by providing a ‘critical friend’ role.”

 

Colin Edwards

 

Colin Edwards joined the scheme in May 2005, and works full time as a sales advisor.

 

“I read about the scheme in the local paper, and thought it sounded interesting. I applied to be a volunteer to do something useful and of value for the community.

 

“Anyone could be arrested and taken into police custody, so by having a scheme like this, the community can be reassured that people are treated well and fairly. By being independent, it gives confidence to the public.”

 

The document below gives a profile of the custody visitors, based on gender, ethnicity, disability and language ability.