Post-it notes preserve an element of privacy in police holding cells
Paper on CCTV screens to hide people’s modesty
Strategically-placed Postit notes on CCTV screens are being used to protect the privacy of people using toilets in police holding cells in Perth, a report has found.
The tactic was revealed in a recentlyreleased inspection document compiled by Derek Penman QPM, chief inspector of constabulary, which reviewed the conditions of the custody centres in Perth, Dundee and Arbroath.
It said images taken from CCTV cameras filming the toilet areas of police holding cells in Perth should be pixelated to preserve people’s modesty.
And, despite the call to blur-out sections of toilet surveillance footage being the sole recommendation made in the report, Mr Penman said he was “disappointed” to find the same issues being flagged up relating to police holding cells – including at the Fair City’s Barrack Street office – in several of the annual inspections.
The report said: “While some progress has been made in implementing our recommendations and improvement actions, we are disappointed that we continue to find some of the same issues and areas for improvement.
“While this report contains only one new recommendation, our findings reinforce the need for previous recommendations and improvement actions to be taken forward by criminal justice services division.”
The document, entitled ‘Inspection of custody centres located in Tayside Division’, said: “Two [Perth] cells [out of a total of 18] could be monitored via CCTV however there was no pixelation on monitoring screens of the toilet areas which would preserve detainee privacy.
“Some staff told us they would attempt to afford some privacy to detainees by covering that area of the screen with a Post-it note.
“Police Scotland should ensure that the toilet areas of cells monitored by CCTV are pixelated to preserve detainee privacy.”
The report also found mattresses in the holding cells at Perth to be “thin” and “some required replacing”, adding “there was an unpleasant smell in some cells in Perth, indicating a drainage problem”.
The report also highlighted the lack of washing facilities and accessible toilets at the Perth station.
Mr Penman’s report continued: “There were no hand washing facilities in any of the cells in Tayside, and detainees are not routinely offered (nor do they ask for) the opportunity to wash their hands after using the toilet or before eating.
“At all three custody centres, showers were generally offered at weekends only, although we note from our review of custody records that women who were menstruating were more likely to be offered hand washing facilities and the opportunity to shower regardless of the time of day or day of the week.”
It added: “Custody staff in Tayside told us that a lack of resources was a factor in showers not being offered more routinely.”
Concerns were also raised in the report about how suspects in holding cells were classed as either “high” or “low” risk.
In the report, a number of examples were provided where a suspect was classed as “low risk” and only put under 60 minutes of observation, while the inspectors said “the information available suggested the detainee was ‘high risk’ and a more frequent level of observations may have been appropriate”.
This includes someone who had suffered a concussion shortly before being taken into custody, someone who was under the influence of drugs, someone who had “warning markers” for suicide, self-harm, depression and claustrophobia, and someone who had
Derek Penman, HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary in Scotland attempted suicide while in custody a few months previously.
The report added there were a number of “inconsistencies” in how vulnerable suspects were assessed in this regard.
The document also identified a number of ligature points at Perth station’s holding cells, particularly around the windows, ventilation points and in the female showering area. A ligature point is described as any feature which could be used to support a device for attempting to commit suicide.
Staff were also reminded to remain vigilant when escorting suspects to and from the station.
The report read: “Staff manage the arrival and departure of detainees as safely and securely as possible given some challenges posed by the physical environment.
“At Arbroath, and at Perth when it is not possible to use the small, secure docking area, the yards and corridors through which detainees enter and exit the custody centres are less secure, requiring staff to remain vigilant and ensure that detainees are escorted safely.”
It added: “While the layout of the booking in desk itself ensures privacy at Perth, we were concerned that the office used by those working in custody is located at the police station’s public counter.
“There is a risk that when discussing the needs of detainees, custody staff may be overheard by members of the public. We welcome plans by Police Scotland to change the layout of the public counter and custody office to reduce this risk.”
The report also found no exercise facilities were offered at the Barrack Street station.
However, the report did praise the professionalism of staff and the thorough risk assessments carried out, adding “the detainees we spoke to were generally satisfied with how they were treated”.
It also praised the healthcare on offer, as a nurse regularly visits the Perth station.
Speaking after the report’s publication, Mr Penman said: “We found staff to be professional and the detainees were generally satisfied with the way they were treated.
“There have been improvements in some areas such as shift handovers, review of risk assessments and accuracy of recording information but we are disappointed that we continue to find a number of the same issues.
“Many of our concerns in relation to the custody centres in Tayside will be equally applicable to other custody centres across Scotland and should be taken into account in improvement planning.”
He added: “While risk assessment is not an exact science, and much reliance is placed on the skill and expertise of the custody staff to interpret the information before them, we believe Police Scotland must do more to ensure effective assessments and care plans.”
In response to the report, Chief Superintendent Garry McEwan from Police Scotland’s criminal justice service division, said: “I welcome the HMICS report and the acknowledgement that we’ve undertaken a significant programme of work following the initial inspection of custody facilities in Tayside.
“The care and welfare of people in police custody is a top priority for Police Scotland and the report recognises many of the improvements made, including the roll out of a national custody system and enhanced risk assessment tools.
“We recognise the recommendations made and steps are currently being taken to address this.”
Police Scotland’s Tayside Division has now been asked to create an action plan to address the points raised during the inspection, and its progress will be continually monitored.
They would attempt to afford some privacy to detainees by covering that area of the screen