MPA: 400 volunteers receive a big 'thank you' for dedication

41/09
4 June 2009

The Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) will tonight say a big ‘thank you’ to the 400 volunteers who regularly visit police cells across London to check on the treatment and conditions of people held in police custody.

Independent Custody Visitors (ICVs) are ordinary members of the community, appointed by the MPA, who visit police stations unannounced. Their independent assessments help to reassure communities that detainee’s rights are maintained while written reports of the visits highlight areas for improvement.

This year the MPA will be recognising the long service and achievements of individual ICVs who have volunteered for ten years or more, together with those teams that have worked most effectively to visit every police station open 24/7 in their borough once a week throughout the year.

Kit Malthouse, Vice Chair of the MPA and Deputy Mayor for Policing, said:

“Doing your duty is sadly too often treated as an old fashioned concept, but it is alive and well amongst the 400 Independent Custody Visitors in London. They give freely of their time to make sure that people detained by the Police are treated well and their rights are respected. We salute and thank them for their community spirit and their commitment.

“In particular today, we are thanking thirty ICVs who have done this valuable work, on a voluntary basis, for over ten years. We are especially grateful for the experience, time, energy and principles they have brought to bear on this valuable task.

"In this week celebrating volunteering across London, we congratulate and thank you all and look forward to many more years working together.”

This event, which coincides with national Volunteer Week, takes place in London’s Living Room, City Hall, on the evening of 4 June.

Notes to editors

1.    More information about the London ICV scheme, including how to get involved, is available on the MPA website at: www.icvlondon.org.uk

2.    The London scheme has also developed a page on Facebook to raise awareness of the work of ICVs across the capital. Enter ‘ICV London’ to view this resource.

3.    Volunteers' Week is a national celebration of volunteers and volunteering , held at the beginning of June every year, which seeks to raise the profile of the millions of volunteers who regularly give their time and inspire others to get involved. In 2009 Volunteers' Week is celebrating its 25th anniversary.

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