National Preventive Mechanism Annual Report 2009–10 Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary T he role of HM Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC), set out in the Police Act 1996, is to inspect and report on the efficiency and effectiveness of policing. This involves inspecting individual local police forces and police authorities as well as national police forces and policing agencies. Following the UK’s ratification of OPCAT, HMIC’s role has included carrying out inspections of police custody facilities in England and Wales in partnership with HM Inspectorate of Prisons. HMIC is currently led by a Chief Inspector and four Inspectors of Constabulary, and is staffed by a team of assistant inspectors. Until recently, members of HMIC were appointed exclusively from the ranks of senior police officers. It is now customary, however, that some inspectors are appointed from nonpolice backgrounds, underlining HMIC’s commitment to objectivity and broadening its professional base. Methodology The inspection programme devised by HMIC and HMIP seeks to ensure that every designated police custody suite in England and Wales is inspected at least once in a six-year period. By the end of March 2010, the inspection programme was a third of the way through its projected cycle. During the six-year cycle, some police custody suites will be subject to follow-up inspections based on an assessment of risk. Around one-third of inspections are unannounced. As well as visiting custody suites and speaking to detainees and staff, evidence is drawn from surveys of prisoners at a nearby prison who have previously been detained in the relevant custody suite. After each inspection, a detailed report is sent to the relevant chief constable and 30 the chair of the police authority. The police authority responds within three months by producing an action plan to address any recommendations made. HMIC and HMIP have devised detailed inspection criteria, known as expectations, against which the treatment and conditions for detainees in police custody are assessed. The expectations also act as a guide to senior police officers and police authorities on the standards that the two inspectorates expect to find in police custody and the sources of information and evidence upon which they will rely. The expectations are informed by the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) and its associated codes of practice and government guidance on the safer detention and handling of people in custody. In addition, the expectations are informed by, and referenced against, international human rights standards. The four key areas covered by the expectations are strategy, treatment and conditions, individual rights and health care. The final expectations were published in 2010 after being trialled in several inspections and following consultation with key stakeholders. Summary of activities and key issues In 2009–10, HMIC and HMIP carried out 14 police custody inspections. These inspections brought to light some good practice in individual police forces and custody suites, but also identified some general and systemic concerns. At a strategic level, some police forces paid insufficient attention to custodial issues. Where this was the case, it led to inconsistency in provision and conditions as well as a failure to recognise the importance of a safe custodial environment. Another emerging concern