Custody suite

A custody suite is an area within a police station in the United Kingdom designed and adapted to process and detain those who have been arrested, or who are there for purposes such as answering bail.

A police custody suite in Birmingham, England

Historically, all police stations had a small number of individual cells where offenders could be detained. However, in recent years, most detainees are more likely to be taken to large police stations which are designated to hold prisoners. Suites are also known as custody centres.

Experiences of detainees

The design, location (downtown or "the middle of nowhere"), and setting of the custody suite facilities greatly determines the experience of the accused.^[1] Juvenile offenders are unlikely to receive discrimination based on race or ethnicity at police stations, and are often placed together with other young suspects in a custody suite, or especially for tweeners and those who have autism spectrum disorder, are isolated for "safeguarding".^[2] Both police officers and the detainees are the "subject of surveillance" by supervisors; both thus have "a shared experience of life in the custody suite: they can both be watched."^[3]

Facilities

There are numerous facilities contained within a police custody suite, which most commonly include:

Holding cells used in Leith Police Station from 1833 to 2003

Drunks cell, police station, Pyrmont, Sydney, 1949

• A holding cell where officers await with detainees entry to the suite.
• A number of cells to hold detainees, often split into male, female and juvenile groups of cells.
• A prisoner processing area where custody officers (most commonly uniformed sergeants) process the detainees presented to them by police officers
• Designated interview rooms, holding equipment used to conduct and record interviews with suspects for use as evidence.
• A medical room for use by police medical staff
• Consultation rooms where detained persons can consult with their legal representatives.
• Rooms used for video identification parades or similar.
• A room in which officers can complete arrest documentation after detainees 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 officer, 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. The detainee would then be asked questions regarding their personal details and informed of their rights whilst in custody under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 or Criminal Procedure (Legal Assistance, Detention and Appeals) (Scotland) Act 2010 in Scotland. Before being allocated a cell and a record being made of the initial time detained, the detainee is usually searched with any item they are carrying removed and in some cases retained 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 detainee's departure.

The arresting officer will then complete the documentation for the arrest and may conduct further brief 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 charge.

Independent custody visitors may make unannounced visits to custody suites to ensure that detainees are treated properly.

See also

• Bail
• Criminal justice
• Due process
• Juvenile justice
• Penology
• Police custody
• Police training