Derbyshire has secured a prestigious national award for the outstanding quality of its Independent Custody Visiting (ICV) scheme.
The scheme, managed by Derbyshire Police and Crime Commissioner Nicolle Ndiweni-Roberts, has received a ‘platinum’ award – the highest possible grade in the Independent Custody Visiting Association’s (ICVA) Quality Assurance Framework.
Derbyshire is one of only nine of the 43 police force areas in England and Wales to achieve platinum status. This prestigious accolade places Derbyshire among the highest-performing Independent Custody Visiting (ICV) schemes in the country and delivers on a key commitment made by the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), who pledged shortly after her election in 2024 to secure Platinum status for the scheme.
Independent Custody Visitors (ICVs) perform vital scrutiny duties on behalf of the PCC, conducting unannounced visits to police custody suites to speak to detainees to check they are being treated fairly and that their entitlements are being met.
They also inspect the conditions of cells and custody accommodation to ensure they meet standards and review custody records to ensure staff are complying with their responsibilities, especially in relation to those who are young or vulnerable.
Issues are raised in electronic reports sent to the PCC’s office for action.
To achieve ‘platinum’ status, ICV schemes must meet more than 25 rigorous criteria, demonstrating an outstanding standard of service that goes above and beyond basic custody visiting and volunteer management requirements. They must also be formally assessed and verified by ICVA leadership to ensure they are performing at an exceptional level.
Police and Crime Commissioner Nicolle Ndiweni-Roberts said: “This is a fantastic achievement, and I am immensely proud of everyone who has contributed to it, particularly our volunteers, whose commitment is at the heart of the ICV scheme’s success.
“This accreditation reflects not only the professionalism and hard work of those involved, but also the strength of the partnerships that underpin the scheme. It confirms that Derbyshire’s ICV scheme is among the very best in the country for both quality and performance.
“When I was elected PCC in 2024, I made it a priority to restore the scheme to the highest level of accreditation. To achieve that within just two years is a remarkable accomplishment.
“Building stronger communities is incredibly important to me, and it is inspiring to see local people stepping forward to make a real difference, providing independent oversight and giving a voice to some of the most vulnerable members of society.
“While we are rightly celebrating this success, our work does not stop here. We will continue to build on this achievement, encourage more people to get involved, and ensure our volunteers remain at the forefront of delivering an outstanding service to communities across Derbyshire.”
The ICVA is the national membership organisation that supports, leads and represents ICV schemes nationally.
The Quality Assurance Framework is designed to assess how well schemes comply with the code of practice that governs custody visiting. There are four levels of award: Code Compliant, Silver, Gold and Platinum.
Derbyshire’s ICV scheme was presented with a platinum quality assurance award by the ICVA on Wednesday (July 8th) at a ceremony in London.
Dame Anne Owers, Chair of ICVA, said: “Once again, these awards show the value and importance of independent custody visiting, with even more schemes being awarded the top ‘platinum’ grading. This also reflects the crucial work that ICVA does, in providing support and training for volunteers and schemes across the country.”
Sherry Ralph, Chief Executive at ICVA, added: “The Quality Assurance Framework represents a significant and growing commitment from schemes to ensure that independent custody visiting is regularly reviewed, improvements are made where needed, and excellent practice is shared.
“This year, we have also strengthened our approach by introducing a greater focus on volunteer voices, ensuring that the experiences and perspectives of Independent Custody Visitors are embedded within schemes and reflected in assessments, particularly at the higher levels of the framework. I congratulate schemes on their accomplishments and thank them for their continued dedication and commitment.”
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