Helping to safeguard detainee welfare

The Scottish Police Authority has a statutory duty to maintain and manage an Independent Custody Visiting Scheme (ICVS) in Scotland.

Independent Custody Visitors are volunteer members of the local community who visit police stations unannounced to check on the treatment of detainees, the conditions in which they are being held, and to see that their rights and entitlements are being observed.

The IVCS scheme monitors the welfare of people detained in police custody facilities throughout the country. Managed by the Authority, this nationwide network has around 100 volunteers.

Meeting obligations and UN standards

The ICVS helps the Authority to meet its obligation to ensure equality and diversity, and its obligation to protect human rights. It also aids Scotland’s aim to do everything it can within its public services to meet the international standards set by the United Nations – specifically, through its OPCAT treaty.

The Authority produces an annual report on ICVS activities. Every report includes facts, figures and findings from the work of the volunteers and is published on the website. You can access previous reports in 'Related Content' below or by searching in the Publication Library.