National recommendation - National Police Chiefs' Council, August 2022
We identified national learning in respect of search procedures in custody following a review of a police investigation.
IOPC reference
Recommendations
The IOPC recommends that the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) shares the learning from IOPC cases with force custody leads, asking them to review their custody policies, procedures and training to ensure that metal detectors are used as part of all searches when booking detainees into custody (provided it is safe to do so).
This follows an IOPC review of a Death and Serious Injury (DSI) local investigation where a metal detector search did not take place on a detainee, meaning a metallic spoon they secreted was not detected. Consequently, the detainee used this to consume an illicit drug while detained and suffered an opioid overdose. Other similar incidents where metallic objects have been concealed by detainees and later used, mostly to harm themselves, have been highlighted by the outcome of this case. During all these incidents the detainees were searched but no metal detectors were used as part of the searches.
While there is already an expectation that detainees should be searched using a metal detector before being placed into police cells, as outlined in the College of Policing’s Detention and Custody National Policing Curriculum, there is some inconsistency between different force policies and procedures about when metal detectors should be used as part of searches. The implementation of a national consensus on the matter may improve detainee (and custody staff) safety and welfare in the future.
It is noted that the use of metal detectors may complement searches by assisting custody staff to identify metallic items or weapons. However, the use of a metal detector does not replace the need for a thorough search by custody staff.
Do you accept the recommendation?
Yes
Accepted action:
This recommendation has been accepted.
The learning recommendation will be circulated on ChiefsNet for all Chief Constables to consider for wider learning, and it will also be shared with all custody leads across England and Wales whose details are held by the NPCC Custody Portfolio.
Please note that whilst the action is accepted and the NPCC will complete the above action – Forces should be following Authorised Professional Practice, which highlights the need for wand searching. If they choose not to follow APP then they must justify this and create their own policy and procedure around the decision.