Detainees in custody in Cambridgeshire were held in reasonably
good physical conditions with “generally impressive” care and
attention from staff, inspectors found in 2017.
Cambridgeshire Constabulary had improved its work in relation to
mental health since a previous inspection in 2011, ensuring that
few people were detained in police cells as a place of safety
under the Mental Health Act. Inspectors were also reassured to
find that Cambridgeshire could demonstrate that the use of force
in custody was proportionate and the required governance and
scrutiny processes were in place. Overall, the report noted, “the
picture surrounding the use of force in custody was positive and,
while it reflected what we expect to see, we do not often find
this.”
Publishing a report on an unannounced inspection in August 2017,
Peter Clarke, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, and HM Inspector of
Constabulary, Dru Sharpling, said: “We found that detainees in
custody were held in reasonably good physical conditions. It was
clear that the staff culture remained healthy and we were
generally impressed with the care and attention that staff showed
towards detainees.”
They made clear their concerns in a largely positive inspection
centred on the complex governance arrangements for custody in
Cambridgeshire. Cambridgeshire Constabulary had entered into a
formal collaboration with the neighbouring Hertfordshire and
Bedfordshire forces, under section 22A of the Police Act 1996, in
which Hertfordshire took lead responsibility for provision of
custody. The inspection found, and this was acknowledged by the
force, that there were ‘gaps in engagement and scrutiny at senior
officer level between Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire
Constabularies” resulting in a lack of accountability by
Cambridgeshire for the delivery of its custody services.
Peter Clarke and Dru Sharpling said: “Given the complicated
governance structure, and because procedures were in a state of
transition, we did not believe that Cambridgeshire had sufficient
governance and control over its day-to-day custody function.”
Inspectors were also concerned to find that minimum staffing
levels within custody suites in Cambridgeshire were not always
complied with. “Staff cover was sometimes not sufficient to
ensure safe detention, and this could have had an adverse impact
on detainees.”
Overall, Peter Clarke and Dru Sharpling, said:
“We found many positive features in the way that custody services
operated, delivering good frontline outcomes for detainees in a
number of key areas. However, at a strategic level we had
concerns that the weaknesses identified in our 2011 inspection
remained, and that, in practice, the collaborative arrangements
for custody services did not provide sufficient accountability at
senior officer level in Cambridgeshire Constabulary. Until this
is addressed, we believe that this will remain a block to the
custodial function in Cambridgeshire becoming even better.”
