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| More detainees will die in police
custody |
Police cells visitor Mick Farrant says under
investment are to blame for deaths in custody, not the officers
PC Simon Wilkinson with custody visitors Mick Farrant and
Suzanne Idehen at Kentish Town police station in March 2003 |
EARLIER this week, two Camden police officers faced charges concerning
the death of a man in a police cell. Whatever the rights or wrongs
of this case, there will be other deaths in Camden police cells
unless we face up to the need for proper care for sick detainees.
Today the majority of detainees cells are likely to be suffering
from the effects of drink, drugs or mental illness, sometimes all
three, and may be in custody as a result of crimes to pay for their
habit.
Some will be seriously ill as a result of their addiction, violent
or have illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes and hepatitis
associated with their life style. Many will become sicker in the
cells as withdrawal symptoms kick in. The more drink or drugs a
detainee has consumed the longer they are likely to stay as the
police (rightly) cannot interview those under the influence.
Of course those suspected of committing crimes must be detained
for questioning and, if appropriate, face a court appearance regardless
of drugs or drink consumed and (except in severe cases) their mental
health.
However, once in police detention, sick detainees have limited ability
to look after themselves and are in no position to call on friends
or family for help. They are almost totally dependent on officers
with limited medical knowledge.
Despite the large number of sick detainees, Camden’s custody
suites have no permanent medical presence, only the ability to summon
help in the form of either a visit from Forensic Medical Examiners
(FMEs) or, in emergencies, an ambulance.
The facilities available to FMEs for treatment are relatively rudimentary
with the planned introduction of a defibrillator in the Holborn
custody suite seen as a major innovation.
If a detainee is violent, ambulance staff can and do refuse treatment
and return the detainee to the police station.
Custody suites in Camden are busy places. Typically two sergeants
(though sometimes only one) and one or two civilian staff or police
constables will have five to seven detainees to care for at any
time, and at peak times maybe 12 to 15.
The sergeants have to ensure the detailed regulations governing
detention are strictly adhered to and demanding time limits on the
period allowed in custody are observed. This will involve summoning
a solicitor, perhaps an interpreter, dealing with the arresting
officer, informing the detainee’s family or friends that they
are in detention, calling the doctor if necessary, finding appropriate
adults for vulnerable detainees, perhaps talking to domestic violence
workers, drug and alcohol referral workers, community psychiatric
nurses and independent custody visitors.
Add to this potent mix, the necessity of monitoring more than one
sick detainee either through the CCTV (available only in a small
number of cells), or through 15-minute cell checks, and a tragedy
is waiting to happen.
As an independent custody visitor for five years, I am aware there
are no votes to be gained from spending money on improving police
cells. But a measure of a society’s humanity is surely how
it treats the sick and the imprisoned.
A spell in custody is not as much of a minority pursuit as one might
think. In 2005 more than 15,000 people will spend time in a Camden
cell. Across London the figure is anticipated to be around 350,000.
Over the country as a whole, some 1.5 million entries will be logged
in police custody suites, compared with the 140,000 people a year
who enter a prison in England and Wales. A percentage will be repeat
customers, and some will have been in the wrong place at the wrong
time.
Others might be your child, neighbour or friend after a misjudgement
at a party.
Camden has two permanent Metropolitan Police custody suites, (Holborn
and Kentish Town) and an “overflow” facility at Albany
Street and a British Transport Police custody suite at Whitfield
Street, a total of around 50 cells.
Camden cells are totally inadequate for the 21st-century; indeed
three cells in regular use in Camden date from the 19th century.
Facilities are basic in the extreme: bed base, plastic-covered mattress
and pillow, blanket (not necessarily fresh) and a toilet. There
are no hand basins. Showers are theoretically available, but not
always working and require a hard-pressed officer for escort duties.
Although detainees are legally entitled to fresh air and exercise,
there are no satisfactory facilities for this in Camden.
There is one small light on the horizon. Until a year ago police
custody in London was managed by borough-based units.
These lacked the size and resources to compete effectively for the
substantial resources needed for change and provided no career structure
for police officers interested in custody matters. A new custody
directorate led by a commander has been set up to take a close look
at custody in the capital. An evaluation of 24/7 nursing cover trialled
in Charing Cross has been promised as has an updating of cells throughout
the capital. I wait to see if these overdue words will be translated
into much needed action.
• Mick Farrant is chairman of the Camden Independent Custody
Visitors’ (ICV) Panel. ICVs are volunteers accredited to visit
cells to check detainees’ rights are being respected. |
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