Greater management scrutiny was needed to drive up standards and improve conditions of court custody facilities, said Nick Hardwick, Chief Inspector of Prisons. Today he published the report of an inspection of court custody facilities in Merseyside and Cheshire.

The inspection was the second in a new programme of inspections of court custody carried out by HM Inspectorate of Prisons.  At the time of inspection there were three Crown Courts and nine Magistrates’ Courts in Cheshire and Merseyside, and also a Community Justice Centre and a Youth Court in Liverpool. Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) management structure was newly established, and it was apparent that there had not yet been much opportunity to focus on custody issues, although working relationships between the agencies and contractors were good. In the first year of the current custody and escort contract, most attention had been given to timely collection and delivery of detainees.

Inspectors were pleased to find that:

• staff ensured that people were legally detained;
• courts were flexible in the times when they would hear cases;
• detainees had ready access to legal advice, although their rights were not always clearly explained;
• staff treated detainees with courtesy; and
• there was a very effective Merseycare scheme for diverting mentally ill detainees from the offender pathway.

Inspectors, however, were concerned to find that:

• there were still some excessive waits in cells, both before and after the court hearing;
• provision for the needs of vulnerable people and minority groups was not consistent;
• there was a risk-averse approach to searching and to handcuffing while escorting detainees within the building; and
• almost all suites were in a shabby condition, almost no deep cleaning had been done for a number of years, and graffiti was ubiquitous.

Nick Hardwick said:

‘Detainees were treated with reasonable care and respect, but without the consistent management control and scrutiny which would drive up standards. The physical condition of the custody suites was seriously marred by graffiti and ingrained dirt. HMCTS and its partner agencies and contractors have made a start on streamlining the court custody and escort process; they now need to attend closely to the treatment and conditions of detainees.’

Notes to editors:

1. Read a copy of the full report. (401 kB)
2. HM Inspectorate of Prisons is an independent inspectorate, inspecting places of detention to report on conditions and treatment, and promote positive outcomes for those detained and the public.
3. This report is the second in a new programme of inspections of court custody. These inspections contribute to the UK’s response to its international obligation to ensure regular and independent inspection of all places of detention. The inspections look at strategy, individual rights, and treatment and conditions, including health care.
4. The court custody facilities in this area comprised:
   Crown Courts: Chester, Liverpool and Warrington. Magistrates’ Courts: Chester, Halton, Liverpool, Macclesfield, St Helens, Sefton, South Cheshire (Crewe), Warrington, Wirral. Inspectors also went to the North Liverpool Community Justice Centre and Liverpool Youth Court.
5. This joint inspection was carried out from 5-19 October 2012.#
6. Please contact Barbara Buchanan on 020 7035 2102 if you would like more information or to request an interview with Nick Hardwick.