English language version of our Role of a Custody Visitor animation.

ICV Spotlight Report Click the above link to view our brand new ICV Impact Spotlight report – this report highlights quotes from ICVs, examples of ICV impact over the past year and statistics on how many visits took place.

The use of anti-rip clothing in police custody raises fundamental questions about dignity, necessity, and proportionality. As set out in our reports of 2022 and update report in 2024, the removal of a person’s clothing, sometimes by force, and replacement with anti-rip clothing is an intrusive police power. Whilst we accept that this approach is intended […]

Every week, Independent Custody Visitors (ICVs) walk into police custody suites across the country to check on the welfare and rights of people being detained. They do this quietly, voluntarily and with a sense of responsibility, giving their time to help ensure that people in custody are treated fairly, respectfully and with dignity. Behind every […]

We are absolutely thrilled to announce that just prior to Christmas, the Policing Minister Sarah Jones wrote to ICVA giving us a Home Office commitment to reviewing the Code of Practice for independent custody visiting.  We know that you will be excited and welcome this announcement as we have.      As you will all know, as […]

Independent custody visitors are the most frequent monitors of police custody across the UK, over 1,300 volunteers making unannounced visits to police custody, week in, week out (some visits have happened on Christmas Day and New Years Eve), whatever the time of year to check on the rights, entitlements and wellbeing of those held in […]

ICVA today publishes an impact report highlighting the important work being done to better support women held in police custody, marking World Menopause Day 2024. ICVA, a national membership organisation for independent monitoring of police custody, has issued an impact report today on recent work in collaboration with Sussex Office of the Police and Crime […]

ICVA surveys schemes about important issues in custody visiting on a monthly basis. This month ICVA has focussed on measuring the impact that Sussex OPCC, with assistance from ICVA, along with the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) and College of Policing (CoP) have had in their work on lighting levels in custody. This report gives […]