Police custody cells can be a vibrant, noisy, busy, stressful environment, not suited to all. It’s true that I very rarely get to meet people brought before me at their very best. Prisoners can often be emotional and carry pent up aggression. Some of society’s most vulnerable individuals can find themselves in custody, alongside people who have made a single bad decision or the unrepentant recidivist.
Custody Suite
This is where the Custody officer’s expertise of identifying those who can be diverted to a more productive existence lies. Custody is a Hub where detainees can be engaged and directed to intervention teams, who will assist in helping them find a balance in their lives. This can only be achieved by having a good team, good communication, clear leadership and direction and having the support structure in place. It often surprises me how different a person can be leaving custody compared to how they were when they first entered.
The approach of producer Carrie Smith and the 24/7 film crew was excellent, they stood back and allowed us to interact and engage with the detainees. They filmed how we dealt with detainees in a respectful, professional, courteous way, even though they may not be at their best and demonstrating good behaviour. They also filmed (which was possibly more pertinent for me) how the detainees responded and reacted towards us. The crew saw how we form bonds with our colleagues and how we support and help each other. Carrie and the film crew were not immune to the reactions of the detainees and also experienced some hostility from people not wishing to be filmed, but I am sure she’ll never forget the kiss she received from one of our detainees the night she worked in Swansea custody!