8. Monitoring Risk In Specific Situations It may be that some monitoring mechanisms do not have the mandate to monitor police custody. Others that can carry out such monitoring could face logistical problems due to the sheer number of local police stations and the fact that abuse can happen outside of formal custody. However, reports of abuse in police custody may also come to light once the person has been transferred to prison, or after their release. Even those monitors who lack the mandate to monitor police custody can still document and respond to allegations of abuse in such facilities when it comes to their attention. If they have the consent of the survivors of SGBV, they could, for example, refer the case to legal aid organizations for possible follow-up.18 Preparatory research and reviewing existing documentation • Does police training contain any modules related to gender, gender-sensitive approaches to policing or SGBV more specifically? • Is there a police code of conduct or similar document that governs the professional conduct of police officers? If so, does it contain any standards relating to the prohibition of SGBV? • What police oversight mechanisms are in place? Do they include the issue of SGBV in their mandate? • Have there been any complaints of SGBV during arrest and detention by police authorities? If so, what was the outcome? Are there any instances of police officers being disciplined or prosecuted for SGBV? What are the penalties for police officers found to have perpetrated different forms of SGBV? • If there are disaggregated data on complaints of SGBV by police, are there any groups who appear to be targeted more than others? • Do background checks for potential recruits to the police service include checks for a history of committing gender-based violence, including domestic violence, or of active discriminatory behaviour? Checking police custody facilities In most countries, it may not be possible for monitoring mechanisms to visit every police station in the country on a regular basis, particularly if there are many small, local facilities. However, if monitors have the mandate or the opportunity to inspect police custody, they may be able to gain a good understanding of potential risk factors for SGBV in certain types of facilities, as well as police attitudes towards the issue. The subject of police transport is included in the section on transit and transfer, below (section 8.8) 18 For more detailed information on monitoring police custody, please see: Monitoring Police Custody: A Practical Guide, op. cit., note 15. 38