Police Custody: The detention of persons in police custody in Northern Ireland. A Follow-Up Review of Inspection Recommendations

Significant improvements required on some critical issues

Inconsistent health care service delivery

Police custody is often an adult or child’s first experience of detention and it can be a daunting experience for anyone, particularly for individuals with mental health issues, addiction problems, those who are neurodiverse, or those requiring access to physical or mental health care.

In 2020, the Inspection Team found that a pilot project where nurses provided most health care assessments and treatments, was working effectively.  Inspectors recommended this nurse-led health care model be implemented across all police custody suites in Northern Ireland.

However, during the fieldwork of this Follow-Up Review, Inspectors found that despite efforts, the service was still not available in all custody suites.  In locations where the nurse-led service was not available, the health care needs of detainees were attended to by on call Forensic Medical Officers. This mix of nurse-led services and Forensic Medical Officers has led to an inconsistent approach to health care delivery, with inequitable access to medical services and, in some cases, delays in response times from Forensic Medical Officers.  This had resulted in significant risks to detainees, staff and public safety.

Ongoing challenges for children in custody

CJI Chief Inspector Jacqui Durkin and RQIA Chief Executive Briege Donaghy expressed their concern at the pace of change to address reman, bail and custody arrangements for children and young people in Northern Ireland.  They welcomed the progress made by the Department of Justice to change the legislation, but children who are in the care of the State continue to be disproportionately represented and are more likely to be detained in custody because they cannot access social work support, go back to their children’s home or find alternative accommodation.

Limited progress made since the last inspection, but positive feedback from detainees

There was evidence of steps taken to address recommendations; however, the majority of Strategic and Operational recommendations remained only partially achieved or not achieved at all.

Despite the limited progress since the last Inspection, Inspectors found that the treatment of detainees continued to be positive and detainees reported feeling safe, well-treated and that their needs were addressed.

The Inspection Team also found that, while the age of the custody suites was varied, there was a regular schedule of refurbishment in place and, in most cases, the cells, facilities and communal areas were clean with risks to detainees and staff mitigated appropriately.

The interactions between staff and detainees were also positive and Inspectors witnessed a respectful and caring approach.