Custody suite
Encyclopedia
A custody suite is a designated area within a police station
designed and adapted to process and detain those who have been arrest
ed, or who are there for purposes such as answering bail
.
Historically, all police stations had a small number of individual cell
s where offenders could be detained. However, in recent years most detainees are more likely to be taken to a large police station which is designated to hold prisoners
.
explaining the reason and details of the arrest and evidence gained. If the custody officer is satisfied that the person has been lawfully detained, they will authorise further detention of the person. The detainee would then be asked a series of questions regarding their personal details and informed of their rights whilst in custody under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984
. Before being allocated a cell and a record being made of the time detained, the detainee is usually searched with any item they are carrying removed and in some cases if forensic evidence
has to be preserved. All items of clothing and personal items taken from the detainee are logged and held in a secure place until the detainees departure.
The arresting officer will then complete the necessary documentation for the arrest and may conduct brief further enquiries (including a tape recorded interview with the suspect) before the suspect is brought before the custody officer again for disposal. This disposal could take numerous forms, the most common being that the person is charged with an offence, given police bail
in order for further investigation to be carried out, or released without any charge.
Independent custody visitor
s may make unannounced visits to custody suites to ensure that people being detained are treated properly.
Police station
A police station or station house is a building which serves to accommodate police officers and other members of staff. These buildings often contain offices and accommodation for personnel and vehicles, along with locker rooms, temporary holding cells and interview/interrogation rooms.- Facilities...
designed and adapted to process and detain those who have been arrest
Arrest
An arrest is the act of depriving a person of his or her liberty usually in relation to the purported investigation and prevention of crime and presenting into the criminal justice system or harm to oneself or others...
ed, or who are there for purposes such as answering bail
Bail
Traditionally, bail is some form of property deposited or pledged to a court to persuade it to release a suspect from jail, on the understanding that the suspect will return for trial or forfeit the bail...
.
Historically, all police stations had a small number of individual cell
Prison cell
A prison cell or holding cell or lock-up is a small room in a prison, or police station where a prisoner is held.Prison cells are usually about 6 by 8 feet in size with steel or brick walls and one solid or barred door that locks from the outside. Many modern prison cells are pre-cast. Solid doors...
s where offenders could be detained. However, in recent years most detainees are more likely to be taken to a large police station which is designated to hold prisoners
Prisoner
A prisoner is someone incarcerated in a prison, jail or similar facility.Prisoner or The Prisoner may also refer to:* Prisoner of war, a soldier in wartime, held as by an enemy* Political prisoner, someone held in prison for their ideology...
.
Facilities
There are numerous facilities contained within the custody suite, which most commonly include:- A holding cell where officers wait with prisoners awaiting entry to the suite.
- A number of cellPrison cellA prison cell or holding cell or lock-up is a small room in a prison, or police station where a prisoner is held.Prison cells are usually about 6 by 8 feet in size with steel or brick walls and one solid or barred door that locks from the outside. Many modern prison cells are pre-cast. Solid doors...
s for detaining prisoners, often split into maleMaleMale refers to the biological sex of an organism, or part of an organism, which produces small mobile gametes, called spermatozoa. Each spermatozoon can fuse with a larger female gamete or ovum, in the process of fertilization...
, female and juvenileMinor (law)In law, a minor is a person under a certain age — the age of majority — which legally demarcates childhood from adulthood; the age depends upon jurisdiction and application, but is typically 18...
groups of cells. - A prisoner processing area where custody officerCustody officerA Custody Officer is an attested constable of at least the rank of Sergeant in the United Kingdom who works in a custody suite. They are responsible for the care and welfare of arrested persons who are brought to the custody suite.-Responsibilities:...
s (most commonly uniformed sergeants) process the prisoners presented to them by police officerPolice officerA police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
s - Designated interviewInterviewAn interview is a conversation between two people where questions are asked by the interviewer to obtain information from the interviewee.- Interview as a Method for Qualitative Research:"Definition" -...
rooms, holding equipment used to conduct and record interviews with suspects for use as evidenceEvidenceEvidence in its broadest sense includes everything that is used to determine or demonstrate the truth of an assertion. Giving or procuring evidence is the process of using those things that are either presumed to be true, or were themselves proven via evidence, to demonstrate an assertion's truth...
. - A medical room for use by police medical staffForce Medical ExaminerForce Medical Examiner or Forensic Medical Examiner is the term used to describe doctors used by the police in the United Kingdom. The role is more commonly referred to as the FME. There is no one FME, the term simply refers to the Doctor that happens to be on call at any one time...
- Consultation rooms where detained persons can consult with their legal representatives.
- Rooms used for video identification parades or similar.
- A room officers can complete the necessary arrest documentation after their prisoners have been legally and formally logged in as held in custody.
Procedure
Upon arrival at the suite, the police officer who has made an arrest presents the suspect at a desk before the custody officerCustody officer
A Custody Officer is an attested constable of at least the rank of Sergeant in the United Kingdom who works in a custody suite. They are responsible for the care and welfare of arrested persons who are brought to the custody suite.-Responsibilities:...
explaining the reason and details of the arrest and evidence gained. If the custody officer is satisfied that the person has been lawfully detained, they will authorise further detention of the person. The detainee would then be asked a series of questions regarding their personal details and informed of their rights whilst in custody under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984
Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984
The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 is an Act of Parliament which instituted a legislative framework for the powers of police officers in England and Wales to combat crime, as well as providing codes of practice for the exercise of those powers. Part VI of PACE required the Home Secretary...
. Before being allocated a cell and a record being made of the time detained, the detainee is usually searched with any item they are carrying removed and in some cases if forensic evidence
Forensic identification
Forensic identification is the application of forensic science, or "forensics", and technology to identify specific objects from the trace evidence they leave, often at a crime scene or the scene of an accident. Forensic means "for the courts"....
has to be preserved. All items of clothing and personal items taken from the detainee are logged and held in a secure place until the detainees departure.
The arresting officer will then complete the necessary documentation for the arrest and may conduct brief further enquiries (including a tape recorded interview with the suspect) before the suspect is brought before the custody officer again for disposal. This disposal could take numerous forms, the most common being that the person is charged with an offence, given police bail
Bail
Traditionally, bail is some form of property deposited or pledged to a court to persuade it to release a suspect from jail, on the understanding that the suspect will return for trial or forfeit the bail...
in order for further investigation to be carried out, or released without any charge.
Independent custody visitor
Independent custody visitor
An independent custody visitor is someone who visits people who are detained in police stations in the United Kingdom to ensure that they are being treated properly...
s may make unannounced visits to custody suites to ensure that people being detained are treated properly.