Recommendation - Avon and Somerset Constabulary, June 2026

The IOPC recommends that Avon & Somerset Constabulary review its Custody Standard Operating Protocol (SOP) and relevant training as outlined below, to identify and address any gaps. Any changes should be communicated to custody officers and staff.

• The SOP and relevant training should be reviewed to ensure they provide sufficient guidance about the responsibility of custody officers for the welfare of detainees, having in mind that fulfilling this responsibility requires custody officers to have a good awareness of a detainee’s needs, any care they require, and how this may be achieved.
• The SOP and relevant training should be reviewed to ensure they provide sufficient guidance to custody officers and staff about how information for handovers, including the results of Healthcare Professional (HCP) assessments, should be collated.

Custody officers are ultimately responsible for the supervision and welfare of those detained in their custody suite. In order for a custody officer to fulfil their responsibilities, they need a good awareness of the needs of detainees and the care they require, which could require (but would not be limited to) reviewing entries made on the custody record.

If the relevant entry on the custody log had been reviewed in this case, the HCP assessment for transfer to hospital may have been picked up and actioned. The IOPC is mindful that custody officers do not have time to continually review custody records, but ensuring that there is sufficient guidance and training about how they can make sure they are maintaining awareness of what is happening with the detainees in their care may prevent care needs being missed.  

The complainant in this case was in custody for 24 hours after the HCP assessment that they required transfer to hospital. There were two shift changes in this time but the HCP assessment appears not to have been picked up at these points. APP states, in relation to handover procedures during shift changes, that incoming custody staff should be “fully briefed on the risks and needs on each detainee’s custody record.” The force custody SOP states “Information shared in Handovers needs to be focused on risk, medial[sic] and welfare issues” but only specifies that the risk assessment and care plan should be reviewed by the incoming custody officer.

Ensuring there is sufficient guidance and training content in relation to handovers, and what information handovers should include, may prevent care needs being missed.

Accepted

We accept the recommendation to update the SOP. These updates have been completed.

In relation to ongoing training during handover periods, there will be no change to current practice. As part of their role, staff conduct a handover where they share information regarding risk, concerns, and any medical issues.

On this occasion, detailed information was missed, as there was no verbal handover between the HCP and the Custody Sergeant. However, this is not common practice. It is standard for the HCP to speak directly with the Custody Sergeant when there are concerns to be raised. Therefore, it is not felt that training is needed for managing handovers.