Intoxicated detainees “at risk of self-harm” were sometimes left naked in their cells after officers removed their clothing, according to a report.
Avon & Somerset Police said it has taken “immediate action” after inspectors found too few checks were being carried out on people detained in custody cells. Inspectors urged custody officers to carry out more frequent checks on the welfare of detainees.
Another problem identified in the inspection was the levels of use of PAVA spray, which is similar to pepper spray, in confined cells and corridors.
The force was inspected in January by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services, and the results were reported in May. Sarah Crew, chief constable of Avon and Somerset Police, said the force has already changed its practices in response to the inspection, to make sure officers keep people safe in custody.
In the report, inspectors said: “We found there was an over-reliance on using anti-rip clothing to mitigate risks of self-harm rather than considering alternatives such as higher observation levels. We still have concerns about the levels of use of PAVA incapacitant spray, which is higher than we usually see.
“Detainees under the influence of drink or drugs aren’t always placed on level two observations with rousing checks.
“Anti-rip clothing is used without considering higher observation levels as a more appropriate and proportionate way to manage the risk of self-harm. When it is used, it often leads to the use of force or restraint, sometimes more than once.
“When force is used to remove clothing from detainees at risk of self-harm, this isn’t always managed well enough to protect their dignity. They are provided with replacement clothing, but they don’t always put this on.
“Officers don’t always pay attention to whether detainees dress themselves, and some remain naked in their cells. This is especially the case with detainees who are intoxicated.”
Elsewhere, the force was urged to allocate a female officer to oversee the care and welfare of girls in custody, and to record the ethnicity of every detainee.
Inspectors also said custody staff show a “caring attitude”, keep centres well-maintained and clean, and are patient with violent and volatile detainees.
Prisoners with mental illnesses are diverted away from custody where appropriate, and the force is committed to keeping children out of custody where appropriate. Reading material and stress aids are available for detainees.
Ms Crew was grilled on the inspection during a police question time session on Wednesday, 17th July, by the new Labour police and crime commissioner, Clare Moody.
The chief constable said: “We had very little notice of the inspection, and when you look at how Avon and Somerset did against other police forces, we benchmarked really well.
“We had one cause for concern, which requires immediate attention, and 10 areas for improvement which need attention over time to address.
“Two things that were immediately put in place, when the inspectors were still here, were around the level of observations we give people when they’re intoxicated — how regularly we go in, rouse them, check that they’re OK and leave them. We’ve trebled the number of times we do that.
“When people leave custody and they’re going into the court process, now we ensure that our custody sergeants personally do a handover of risk with the people who are collecting them.
“So as they leave police custody, and enter court custody, and perhaps later in the prisoner stage, there is no information lost around the risk that person might present to themselves or others.”
Avon and Somerset has 36 custody cells in Bridgwater, 48 cells in Keynsham and 48 cells in Patchway.
The force made almost 20,000 arrests last year, so custody centres are always busy.
People are detained in custody so the police can investigate a criminal offence without suspects interfering with evidence, as well as safeguarding victims, witnesses, and also detainees themselves.
The police are allowed to hold people in custody for 24 hours, extended to 96 hours with permission from a magistrates court.
Ms Moody said: “While the majority of people will not have experienced police custody firsthand, it does mean temporarily depriving them of their freedom.
“This is one of the strongest powers that the police have, so when somebody is in custody it’s essential that they’re treated fairly, and with dignity and respect.”
Alex Seabrook, Local Democracy Reporter
