Section two Focus on detention issues as higher levels of observation as the first option to manage this risk. There were 23 deaths reported in or following police custody during the year, the highest figure in a decade.14 Review of deaths and serious incidents in police custody in England and Wales In October 2017, the Report of the Independent Review of Deaths and Serious Incidents in Police Custody was published.15 The review was undertaken by Dame Elish Angiolini and commenced work in October 2015 to examine the procedures and processes around deaths and serious incidents in police custody in England and Wales, identify areas for improvement and develop recommendations. The report made a number of findings and recommendations relevant to the work of NPM members, including in relation to the use of restraint, intoxication, rousing of detainees, mental health and medical care. HMI Prisons and HMICFRS considered these recommendations in the revision of their Expectations for Police Custody. ICVA developed a briefing for its members and a training session for independent custody visitors on the review’s findings and recommendations, which was delivered during 2018. Detainees in police custody in Scotland generally reported to HMICS and ICVS that they were satisfied with the treatment they received. However, HMICS continued to find some of the same issues and areas for improvement that had been highlighted in previous reports. In particular, HMICS reported concerns about the accuracy of risk assessments of detainees – it was not always clear why a detainee was considered low or high risk and the rationale for subsequent care plans was sometimes not apparent. This was despite the vulnerability questionnaire (used by police when booking a person into custody) being revised to include new questions that elicit additional information which should assist in the development of care plans for each detainee. In addition, HMICS had significant concerns about cleanliness and hygiene at Dundee custody centre, which resulted in immediate action from Police Scotland. Recurring issues raised by ICVS were non-gender specific care, including instances when no female staff were on duty to care for female detainees, and disparity of health care provision. During the year, the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2016 came into force, introducing significant changes to arrest and detention procedures in Scotland. Inspections carried out by HMICS since the introduction of the Act found that staff had received training on the requirements of the Act and these requirements (such as ensuring appropriate authorisation of detention) were being met. However, improvements needed to be made in explaining detainee’s legal rights, including by providing an easy to understand format for those with communication difficulties. 14 Independent Office for Police Conduct, Deaths during or following police contact: Statistics for England and Wales 2017/18, July 2018, available at https://www.policeconduct.gov.uk/news/iopc-publishes-figures-deaths-during-or-following-policecontact-201718, accessed 6 August 2018. 15 The report is available at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/ file/655401/Report_of_Angiolini_Review_ISBN_Accessible.pdf, accessed 20 November 2018. 17