Section Four National Preventive Mechanism member profiles In the second thematic inspection, HMICS examined the care of detained and arrested children. One of the main issues which arose during its inspection related to the inappropriate retention of children in custody without relevant legislation and guidance. In its report, HMICS highlighted the need for police forces to provide care for children that meets their specific needs. It noted scope for improvement within police forces in terms of their understanding and implementation of policies, procedures and practices concerning the care of detained children.44 In its third thematic inspection, HMICS examined the provision of medical services for people in police custody. It found that such provision has developed in an ad-hoc manner and is no longer suitable to meet the needs of detainees and police forces. As a result, HMICS made a number of recommendations based on identified good practice and sought to contribute to a wider discussion about how and by whom medical services should be provided.45 mainland custody facilities received visits, those located on islands did not, despite the island facilities processing a significant number of detainees. HMICS recommended that the police board ensure all facilities in its area receive visits. It also recommended that the police board inform all custody visitors of recommendations made by HMICS in its custody-themed inspection reports. Looking forward In the next year, HMICS will continue to monitor the implementation of recommendations made in its custodythemed inspection reports. It will also examine the provision of and safeguards for police custody in its inspections of individual police forces. When inspecting individual police forces and their corresponding police authorities,46 HMICS examines the extent to which they facilitate independent custody visiting.47 When inspecting Northern Constabulary and Northern Joint Police Board, HMICS noted that custody visitors had operated in that police area since 2000. However, while 44 HMICS, Thematic inspection: Care of detained and arrested children (2008). 45 HMICS, Thematic inspection: Medical services for people in police custody (2008). 46 Police authorities (sometimes called police boards) in Scotland are independent of the police force and are not responsible for the day-to-day delivery of policing. Instead, each police authority is responsible for setting, monitoring and scrutinising the budget of its local police force and for holding the Chief Constable to account for the force’s performance. 47 For further information about independent custody visiting in Scotland, see page 52. 45