Section Four National Preventive Mechanism member profiles Summary of activities and key issues Over 1,400 visits are made by custody visitors to police stations each year in Scotland. The majority of concerns raised by visitors relate to conditions of detention, including temperature (with detainees generally being too cold), availability of food and water, sanitation facilities and opportunities to shower. These concerns are normally resolved at the police station but are also addressed during local meetings of custody visitors and police representatives. Such meetings allow custody visitors to share concerns and examples of good practice. One key issue raised by visitors concerns the right of the detainee to exercise. This issue is now being considered at a national level by the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland. As a result of visitors’ concerns about the level of staffing in police custody, Central Scotland Police has instigated a review of custody facilities including staff-detainee ratios. It is anticipated that this review will result in a greater strategic focus by the police force on the custody environment. Looking forward The right of detainees to access a solicitor while in police custody has been a key issue in Scotland and has recently been the subject of legislative change.68 This change is likely to impact on the custody visiting process. Given the current economic climate, all police authorities in Scotland are likely to be subject to budget cuts for the foreseeable future. This may impact on their funding of custody visiting and their ability to efficiently manage visiting schemes. While budget cuts are expected to affect all NPM members in the coming months and years, custody visiting in Scotland is particularly vulnerable because of its lack of a statutory basis. Although custody visiting in Scotland is likely to be subject to continuous review and improvement, visitors are nonetheless performing their role effectively. This is due to the dedication and hard work of the volunteers who undertake visits on behalf of their communities. 68 See Cadder (Appellant) v Her Majesty’s Advocate (Respondent) (Scotland) [2010] UKSC 43 and the Criminal Procedure (Legal Assistance, Detention and Appeals) (Scotland) Act 2010. 53