Volunteers run unannounced checks on police custody units

Unannounced checks have been made on police custody units in Cumbria and other parts of the north-west of the UK by volunteers.

Independent Custody Visitors (ICVs) help raise public awareness on the rights, entitlements, health, and wellbeing of people held in police custody.

The checks were done to highlight National Volunteers' Week, encouraging more people in the region to sign up as an ICV.

There are currently 44 Independent Custody Visitors in Cumbria.

Two visitors from each of the four panels make weekly unannounced inspections of the four designated custody suites at Barrow, Carlisle, Kendal and Workington.