Independent Custody Visiting Scotland - Volunteer Independent Custody Visitor

• Independent Custody Visiting Scotland

• VO103127

We are looking for people to become Volunteer Independent Custody Visitors.

Are you interested in Human Rights?
Do you want to help people at their most vulnerable?
Are you good at listening and observing?

Independent custody visitors are volunteer members of the local community who visit police custody centres in pairs to talk to people held in custody. They provide an independent check on how police treat people. They check if people in custody:
• are looked after properly
• are held in clean and safe conditions
• have their rights protected
• have their dignity protected

Experience required:
You need to be over 18 with no direct involvement in the criminal justice system, for example, serving police officers or special constables would not be eligible. Other people such as solicitors or probation officers may be excluded to prevent possible conflict of interests for the individual. This maintains the independence of the scheme. Full criteria is available on our website.

Experience required

No special skills are required as full training and support is provided. However, custody visitors should be good listeners, non-judgemental, unprejudiced and impartial and generally have an interest in the community and the welfare of the people.

Travel details

In own vehicle or public transport.

Travel expenses

Expenses we will reimburse for public travel costs or mileage in own vehicle for agreed activities. Mileage at standard HMRC rate of 45p per mile.

• About
• Notes

Support

Training details

You will be invited to attend the next information day on receipt of a successful application form. Information days are usually held every six months. The information day will provide a better understanding of what is involved. It will provide you with the opportunity to meet the Scottish Police Authority’s Independent Custody Visiting team along with an existing volunteer Independent Custody Visitor. You will gain a sound knowledge and thorough understanding of people in custody rights and police responsibilities.

This is followed by an informal interview. You will be asked to complete a vetting process.

On completion of the interview and vetting, you will attend a training day. The training day consists of practical and theoretical exercises; these cover all aspects of custody visiting.

Restrictions

Minimum age: 18
Must live in the Scottish Police Authority area. Must have been resident in the UK for at least three years prior to the date of application.

Availability

Mon

Tue

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Morning

Afternoon

Evening

Frequency & commitment

The initial commitment is for three years. There is a one-day induction event, interview then a training day. The monthly commitment is two or three visits a month which take two to three hours to complete. Every three months there is a two hour group meeting. The is an annual volunteer day conference. All timings are approximate / average.

Volunteers (aged 18-25) taking part in this opportunity are eligible to claim Saltire Awards hours for their activity.
Find out more

This volunteering opportunity is also advertised across Argyll & Bute, Edinburgh, Clackmannanshire, Dumfries & Galloway, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Lothian, East Renfrewshire, Falkirk, Fife, Glasgow, Highland, Inverclyde, Midlothian, Moray, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Orkney, Renfrewshire, Scottish Borders, Shetland, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, Stirling, West Dunbartonshire, West Lothian, and Na h-Eileanan Siar.

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