FOI 383747
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 383747
I write in connection with your request for information which was received on 10th January 2025. Please find below the response to your request:
Please can you provide the following information relating to your detention and custody units.
- Relating to the size of your detention and custody units.
- number custody units in your force
- total number of cells within all custody units
- number of cells within your largest custody unit
- number of detention officers
- The annual volume of custody related complaints in the last 12 months (or recent 12 month period) that required an investigation. If possible, split by the following
- Property related
- Defence related (i.e. lack of access to a solicitor, lack of provision of medication, etc.)
- Health & wellbeing related
- Other
If you do not have the above split and have an existing report on the volume of custody complaints, please provide that.
- How much has been paid out in compensation in the last 12 months for the investigations listed in Question 2, split by the following types
- Lost property
- Defence
- Health & wellbeing
- Other
Reply
- Relating to the size of your detention and custody units.
- number custody units in your force - 5
- total number of cells within all custody units - 81
- number of cells within your largest custody unit - 23
- number of detention officers - 43
- The annual volume of custody related complaints in the last 12 months (or recent 12 month period) that required an investigation. If possible, split by the following
- Property related
- Defence related (i.e. lack of access to a solicitor, lack of provision of medication, etc.)
- Health & wellbeing related
- Other
If you do not have the above split and have an existing report on the volume of custody complaints, please provide that.
Please see below table - Complaint Allegations for Custody Related Complaints 2024:
Caveat: The breakdown of complaint recording is based on the custody national factor being applied to the complaint and how it is recorded based on allegation type.
|
Type Category Description of Allegation |
Type Description of Allegation |
Total |
|
Access and/or disclosure of information |
Handling of information |
1 |
|
Delivery of duties and service |
Decisions |
6 |
|
Delivery of duties and service |
General level of service |
12 |
|
Delivery of duties and service |
Information |
3 |
|
Delivery of duties and service |
Police action following contact |
3 |
|
Discriminatory behaviour |
Disability |
1 |
|
Discriminatory behaviour |
Race |
15 |
|
Handling of or damage to property/premises |
Handling of or damage to property/premises |
3 |
|
Individual behaviours |
Impolite and intolerant actions |
3 |
|
Individual behaviours |
Impolite language/tone |
2 |
|
Individual behaviours |
Overbearing or harassing behaviours |
3 |
|
Individual behaviours |
Unprofessional attitude and disrespect |
4 |
|
Police powers, policies and procedures |
Bail, identification and interview procedures |
12 |
|
Police powers, policies and procedures |
Detention in police custody |
66 |
|
Police powers, policies and procedures |
Evidential procedures |
3 |
|
Police powers, policies and procedures |
Other policies and procedures |
3 |
|
Police powers, policies and procedures |
Power to arrest and detain |
48 |
|
Police powers, policies and procedures |
Searches of premises and seizure of property |
1 |
|
Police powers, policies and procedures |
Stops, and stop and search |
1 |
|
Police powers, policies and procedures |
Use of force |
28 |
|
Sexual conduct |
Sexual assault |
4 |
|
Use of police vehicles |
Use of police vehicles |
1 |
|
Grand Total |
|
223 |
- How much has been paid out in compensation in the last 12 months for the investigations listed in Question 2, split by the following types
- Lost property
- Defence
- Health & wellbeing
- Other
No information held. West Mercia Police have not made any payments for custody related allegations.