Issue - meetings

The following motion on the proposed closure of Torquay Police Custody Centre has been proposed by Councillor Jane Taylor, seconded by Councillor Horner and supported by the requisite number of Members within the procedural rules.

Background

I am proposing a notice of motion regarding the proposed 'pilot' closure of Torquay Custody Centre, on the grounds of efficiency. As I am sure you will have seen in the press, Police Officers will have to transport prisoners arrested in Torbay or Teignbridge, to Exeter or Plymouth. It has been reported that more than 5,000 detainees are processed each year. Some sources put it has high as 7000, either way it is a lot of detainees being transported across the County. 

Torquay is one of the busiest custody centres in the force and is frequently full, having to divert Officers to other custody centres. There are at least 36 cells and numerous other functions are carried out in custody suites, including breath and blood tests for drink and drug drivers. This is a time crucial process with a serious risk of offenders providing samples under the limit, if not done as soon as possible. Strip and intimate searches, swabs, bail returnees, interviews, fingerprinting and DNA are also conducted there, to name a few.  

In a previous life, I served 30 years with Devon and Cornwall Constabulary, starting in Torquay and spending most of my career in South Devon, including a stint as a Custody Sergeant. This is an issue which is very close to my heart because first and foremost it is about the welfare and safety of our police officers. There are many obvious consequences of closure and some less, which I have listed below to assist you in your letter to the Chief Constable. 

In relation to the proposed closure of Torbay Custody Centre, the Council notes that:

1. Officer Safety - Violent prisoners need to be transported the shortest possible distance for the safety of Officers and the detainees. Currently violent prisoners can be restrained in prison vans for long periods of time when Torquay Custody Centre is full. The detainee will remain restrained while they are transported to the nearest custody centre with availability, in some case first going to Exeter and then being redirected to Plymouth.  

2. Detainee Safety - It is well documented that prolonged restraint of detainees can contribute to deaths in custody, as was the finding of the Coroner in the sad case of Thomas Orchard. On arrival at a custody centre the waiting times to process detained persons are regularly longer than two hours and up to 7/8 hours, the whole of the officer's shift! 

3. Officer Abstraction - Officers would be out of area for longer, leaving little or no response capability. The effectiveness of any policing response will be seriously impacted. The consequence of this will be incurred overtime cost, increased time in lieu being accrued and officers being refused time off and annual leave.   

4. Response Times - Response times will increase with fewer officers  ...  view the full agenda text for item 11a