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Latest changes – detention and custody

Date Category Guidance Changes
Detention and custody > Detainee care Children and young persons

Beneath section 'Factors which increase risks to the safety and wellbeing of children and young persons': Reference to decommissioned 'NPIA (2009) Guidance on Investigating Child Abuse and Safeguarding Children' removed and replaced with link to APP on Child abuse.

Detention and custody Detention and custody risk assessment

Updated link to the Management of DNR/DNAR/DNACPR decisions in police custody.

Detention and custody Detention and custody risk assessment

Updated link to Home Office (2007) Safety of solicitors and probationary representatives at police stations.

Detention and custody Custody management and planning

Added a link to the Code of Ethics

Detention and custody Moving and transporting detainees

Fixed broken link to ACPO/Department of Health (2011) Template Protocol for the Management of Detainees Who Require Hospital Treatment.

Detention and custody Deaths in custody

Updated broken links to IOPC statutory guidance on the police complaints system.

Detention and custody Detention and custody risk assessment

Added question to 'Checklist: assessing detainees' – 'Is this your first time in police custody?'

Detention and custody Detention and custody risk assessment

Adding information on digital PER (dPER).

Detention and custody Moving and transporting detainees

Information added in relation to the digital person escort record (PER) form and out of date link to personal safety manual replaced

Detention and custody Control, restraint and searches

Addition of section - The documenting of strip searches in police custody.

Detention and custody > Detainee care Children and young persons

Correction of error in section on Intimate and strip searches of children and young persons

Detention and custody > Detainee care Children and young persons

Addition to section on strip search about consideration for section 11 of the Children Act 2004.

Detention and custody > Detainee care Detainee care

Information added in Clothing section about anti-rip clothing.

Detention and custody Response, arrest and detention

Information added about changes affecting pre-charge bail due to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022.

Detention and custody > Detainee care Children and young persons

Edited the section on Local safeguarding children boards. Changed the section title to local safeguarding children partnerships - with new links. 

Detention and custody Moving and transporting detainees

Added an extra paragraph to the Prisoner escort and custody service section to reflect amendments changes due to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022

Detention and custody Response, arrest and detention

New paragraph added to the section on Persons attending a police station voluntarily who are not arrested to reflect the changes to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022.

Detention and custody Control, restraint and searches

Amendments made to Conduct of searches – When might a strip search become an intimate search? 

Amendments made following a court ruling.

Detention and custody Response, arrest and detention

Broken link in drop down box S.8 'monitoring and data collection'.

Detention and custody > Detainee care Equality and individual needs

Reference to Annex L to PACE Code C added and detail added about transgender officers and staff.

Detention and custody Terrorism Act 2000 (TACT)

New module on TACT published.

Detention and custody > Detainee care Equality and individual needs

Sentence added about assistance dogs in custody.

Detention and custody Detention and custody risk assessment

Fixed broken links to document 'Suicide prevention and risk management for perpetrators of child sexual exploitation and indecent images of children (IIOC).'

Detention and custody > Detainee care Alcohol and drugs

Fixed broken link to NPIA (2011) Template Protocol for the Management of Detainees who are Intoxicated and Incapable in a Public Place.

Detention and custody Control, restraint and searches

Replaced middle section of medical assessment section.

Detention and custody Buildings and facilities

Changes requested to Design and maintenance of a custody suite section: standard Home Office design amended to PCDG design throughout section.

Contact details changed in inspection and maintenance regime section, 1st paragraph (first aid equipment section) changed.

Detention and custody CCTV

Contact details changed in planning section.

Detention and custody Custody management and planning

Changes requested to Fire safety section – removal of two info boxes and replacement of HOPBDG with PCDG.

Further fires safety advice – same changes (HOPBDG chapter 10, custody PD5 replace with PCFD Section 17).

Inadequate ventilation systems – same abbreviations amended (HOPBDG to PCDG).

Detention and custody > Detainee care Detainee care

Recording of cell checks.

Detention and custody Detention and custody risk assessment

Updated content on Do not resuscitate orders

Detention and custody > Detainee care Detainee care

Legal update requested.

Detention and custody > Detainee care Equality and individual needs

Additional wording added.

Detention and custody > Detainee care Children and young persons

Terminological note removed and supporting documents added.

Detention and custody > Detainee care Detainee care

Out of date documents replaced and links to PACE Code C inserted where relevant.

Detention and custody > Detainee care Equality and individual needs

Inserted links to PACE Code C where relevant.

Detention and custody Control, restraint and searches

Out of date documents replaced and new supporting documents added.

Detention and custody Deaths in custody

References to the IPCC replaced with IOPC.

Detention and custody Detention and custody risk assessment

Out of date documents and references replaced.

Detention and custody Moving and transporting detainees

Amended references to PACE.

Detention and custody Response, arrest and detention

Inserted links to PACE Code C where relevant.

Detention and custody Detention and custody risk assessment

Content amended in section release from custody.

Detention and custody > Detainee care Equality and individual needs

Reference to transexual and transvestite changed to trans detainee.

Detention and custody Buildings and facilities

Change of contact details - Ministry of Justice Estates Directorate added

Detention and custody Buildings and facilities

National Police Estate Group - Ministry of Justice contact email added.

Detention and custody Custody management and planning

New links provided to IOPC lessons learned and expectations for police custody.

Detention and custody Detention and custody - Guidance overview

Revised vocabulary relating to transgender.

Detention and custody Detention and custody risk assessment

Removal of decommissioned document - Custody guidance - Terrorism Act. Replaced with link to APP Counter Terrorism.

Detention and custody Detention and custody risk assessment

Text added in relation to released under investigation.

Detention and custody Detention and custody risk assessment

Broken link to Terrorism Act Custody Guidance amended.

Detention and custody Detention and custody risk assessment

New leaflet from FFLM on head injuries.

Detention and custody > Detainee care Detainee care

Updates to DC in line with PACE changes introduced 21 August 2019.

Detention and custody Detention and custody risk assessment

Updates to DC in line with PACE changes introduced 21 August 2019.

Detention and custody Response, arrest and detention

Updates to DC in line with PACE changes introduced 21 August 2019.

Detention and custody Suicide prevention and risk management for perpetrators of child sexual exploitation and indecent images of children (IIOC)

June 2019 version of Management of suicide operational advice added.

Detention and custody Response, arrest and detention

Amended worded to clarify position around suspension of bail period.

Detention and custody > Detainee care Detainee care

Updated link to FFLM documents.

Detention and custody Custody management and planning

Wording changed to amend IPCC to IOPC.

Detention and custody Detention and custody - Guidance overview

Updated link to PACE Codes.

Detention and custody Control, restraint and searches

New guidance from FFLM on management of those subject to Taser.

Detention and custody Detention and custody - Guidance overview

Amended wording relating to menstuation throughout.

Detention and custody > Detainee care Equality and individual needs

Amended wording relating to menstruation.

Detention and custody > Detainee care Equality and individual needs

Terminology changed from transexual/transvestite to trans-individuals.

Detention and custody Control, restraint and searches

Removal of outdated link to information on excited delirium.

Detention and custody Response, arrest and detention

Updated to reflect new street bail legislation.

Detention and custody > Detainee care Children and young persons

Update to wording in relation to introduction of section 42 Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015.

Detention and custody Detention and custody risk assessment

Various changes relating to updated reference material, new links, and additional wording on release from custody - see APP PoLKA community for details.

Detention and custody Detention and custody risk assessment

Updated Acute Behavioural Disturbance reference material.

Detention and custody > Detainee care Alcohol and drugs

Under heading 'Additional risks associated with alcohol' – sentence added around increased risk of morbidity and mortality with alcohol consumption/withdrawal.

Detention and custody Control, restraint and searches

Addition of information to clarify intimate searches beneath heading 'When might a strip search become an intimate search?'

Detention and custody Detention and custody risk assessment

Addition of link to Suicide prevention and risk management for perpetrators of child sexual exploitation and indecent images of children (IIOC) (Secure site only).

Detention and custody Detention and custody - Guidance overview

Major update.

Detention and custody Detention and custody - Guidance overview

Broken links to PACE Code C updated throughout.

Detention and custody Response, arrest and detention

In section on 'Pre-charge bail management' – 'offenders' reference changed to 'those on bail' in principle 6.

Detention and custody Detention and custody risk assessment

Addition of link to ebola guidelines.

Detention and custody > Detainee care Children and young persons

Change to 'Girls' heading to remove reference to age of detained girls.

Detention and custody > Detainee care Equality and individual needs

Content changes to reflect newly uploaded consultation content.

Detention and custody > Detainee care Children and young persons

In section on 'Responsibilities of the police' – 'ACPO (2009) guidance on investigating child abuse and safeguarding children' reference changed to a link to 'Multi-agency arrangements for safeguarding' in the APP on Investigating child abuse and safeguarding children > Police response to investigating child abuse.

Detention and custody Detention and custody - Guidance overview

Reference to guidance being decommissioned as a result of publication of Child abuse APP amended.

Detention and custody Custody management and planning
  • In section on 'Independent custody visitors' – link to draft Code of Practice replaced with the 2013 version.
  • In section on 'Process for an independent custody visitor visit' – wording changed from 'They must also give regular feedback to the police authority' to 'They must also give regular feedback to the police and crime commissioner'.
Detention and custody Detention and custody - Guidance overview
  • Replaced reference to police authority with PCC.
  • Replaced reference to a draft document with link to published version.
Detention and custody Detention and custody - Guidance overview

Changes to the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) reflected throughout this APP.

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