HMICS Custody Inspection Report for Greater Glasgow: Key Findings and Implications
The 2025 joint inspection by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS) and Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) evaluated custody services at three Glasgow facilities—London Road, Govan, and Cathcart—focusing on detainee welfare, operational standards, and healthcare provision. Below is a detailed analysis of the findings and their alignment with Police Scotland’s strategic priorities.
Key Findings
1. Facilities and Operational Challenges
• Infrastructure: While Govan and London Road custody centres were generally well-maintained, Cathcart—a fallback facility—required urgent repairs. Issues included insecure internal doors at Govan and Cathcart, creating potential security risks.
• Safety Shortcomings: Ligature cutters at Govan were stored in an unmarked box, delaying emergency access. Sharps bins were left unsecured at the charge bar, posing health hazards.
• Intoximeter Placement: Govan’s intoximeter was located in a cramped area near high-traffic zones, risking operational inefficiency during peak times.
2. Children in Custody
Inspectors identified five cases where children (aged 13–16) were held for extended periods (6–15 hours) for minor offences, contrary to policy. For example:
• A 13-year-old detained for over 6 hours.
• A 16-year-old held overnight for 9+ hours without justification.
No records indicated oversight by custody inspectors, raising concerns about proportionality and welfare.
3. Staffing and Management
• Chronic Understaffing: Custody teams frequently operated below base levels, exacerbating delays in detainee processing and release. High overtime demands and sickness rates compounded stress.
• Management Visibility: Senior officers often worked remotely or on compressed hours, reducing oversight of operational compliance and staff support.
4. Healthcare Provision
• Strengths: The Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) delivered robust 24/7 nursing services, secure medication management, and effective mental health pathways.
• Gaps: Expired oxygen masks and defibrillator pads at London Road highlighted lapses in equipment checks. Ambiguity persisted around healthcare assessments for detainees held under “not officially accused” status.
Recommendations and Alignment with Police Scotland’s Vision
The report made six recommendations, four targeting Police Scotland and two for the HSCP. These align with the Chief Constable’s vision of “safe, effective, and human rights-compliant policing”:
1. Staffing Levels (Rec. 1): Ensuring adequate staffing directly supports the vision’s emphasis on officer welfare and operational safety.
2. Management Presence (Rec. 2): Regular oversight by senior officers reinforces accountability, a pillar of the 2030 Strategy’s focus on leadership.
3. Child Detentions (Rec. 3): Robust oversight of custody decisions for minors aligns with commitments to safeguarding vulnerable groups.
4. Ligature Cutter Accessibility (Rec. 4): Mitigating suicide risks upholds human rights obligations.
5. Healthcare Equipment (Rec. 5): Ensuring medical readiness dovetails with partnership goals under the Joint Framework for Healthcare in Custody.
6. Clarity on Assessments (Rec. 6): Streamlining protocols for “not officially accused” detainees addresses procedural gaps affecting timely care.
Issues Around Race
The report did not explicitly highlight disparities tied to race. However, inspectors noted:
• Language Support: Translation services and multilingual posters were available but inconsistently displayed (e.g., absent at London Road).
• Third-Sector Referrals: While referrals to groups like the Positive Outcomes Project (POP) were praised, uptake varied, potentially disproportionately affecting marginalised communities.
The review did not delve into detainee ethnicity or analysis of racial equity. Future inspections could strengthen focus on this dimension, particularly given broader concerns about overrepresentation of minority groups in custody settings.
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