National Preventive Mechanism Second Annual Report 2010–11 Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland The role of HMICS is to monitor and improve police services in Scotland. It scrutinises the work of Scotland’s eight police forces, as well as the Scottish Police Services Authority, a national body responsible for, among other things, the training of police officers. HMICS inspects all aspects of policing, including police custody. Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons HMIP is an independent statutory organisation which carries out regular inspections of places of detention, to assess the treatment of and conditions for detainees. HMIP inspects all prisons in England and Wales, including YOIs; all IRCs, STHFs and escort arrangements for immigration detainees; and all police custody facilities in association with HMIC. By invitation, HMIP also participates in inspections of prisons in Northern Ireland (in partnership with CJINI) and inspects some military detention facilities. It is anticipated that HMIP will soon be granted powers to inspect court custody facilities. Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland HMIPS inspects prisons, including YOIs, paying particular attention to the treatment of and conditions for prisoners. The Inspectorate also has a duty to inspect legalised police cells. These cells are used to hold prisoners awaiting trial in their local area, rather than transfer them to distant prisons. It also inspects prisoner escort arrangements – this includes the conditions in which prisoners are transported from one place to another, as well as court custody facilities or other places where prisoners are temporarily held outside a prison. Independent Custody Visiting Association Independent custody visitors are volunteers from the community who visit all police stations where detainees are held, to check on their welfare. Custody visiting is statutory and visitors have the power to access police stations, examine records relating to detention, meet detainees for the purpose of discussing their treatment and conditions, and inspect facilities, including cells, washing and toilet facilities, and facilities for the provision of food. Independent Custody Visitors (Scotland) Independent custody visitors in Scotland carry out regular, unannounced visits to police stations to monitor the treatment of and conditions for detainees. Custody visitors in Scotland have not been designated separately as a member of the UK NPM but are members of ICVA, although they retain their own funding and management framework. Independent Monitoring Boards IMBs have a statutory duty to satisfy themselves as to the state of the prisons or immigration detention facilities they visit, their administration and the treatment of prisoners or detainees. The boards are made up of unpaid members of the community and fulfil their duties by carrying out regular visits to establishments. There is a board for every prison in England and Wales and every IRC in England, Wales and Scotland, as well as for STHFs for immigration detainees. Board members are appointed by the Secretary of State. Independent Monitoring Boards (Northern Ireland) IMBs in Northern Ireland are statutory bodies whose role is to monitor the treatment of prisoners and the conditions of their imprisonment. There are three boards in Northern Ireland, one for each prison. 52