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National Preventive Mechanism
HMICS is a member of the United Kingdom’s National Preventive Mechanism (NPM), which is a group of organisations designated under the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT).
OPCAT recognises that detainees are particularly vulnerable and aims to prevent ill treatment through establishing a system of regular visits or inspections to all places of detention. OPCAT requires that States designate an NPM to carry out such visits or inspections to places of detention, to monitor treatment of and conditions for detainees, and to make recommendations for the prevention of ill treatment.
The UK NPM is made up of 21 bodies who monitor places of detention across Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland. This includes police custody, prisons, court custody, immigration and military detention, secure children’s homes, and places where people are detained under mental health legislation. The NPM members have the power to enter places of detention and speak to detainees and staff in private.
As a member of the NPM, HMICS carries out regular inspections of police custody in Scotland using the HMICS custody inspection framework. This framework focuses on the treatment of and conditions for detainees, and includes a range of indicators setting out what we expect to find during our custody inspections. We work closely with Independent Custody Visiting Scotland (ICVS), who visit all police custody locations on a regular basis. A memorandum of understanding covers the processes in place for sharing information.
