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Detention & Custody APP
Detention & Custody APP
The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) and the associated Codes of Practice set out the legislation and standards for dealing with people who come into contact with the police. Whilst members of the public are detained in custody, officers and staff should treat them in a way that is dignified and takes account of their human rights and individual needs. The Police force are only allowed to use force within a custody suite which is deemed necessary, proportionate and lawful and must be recorded by officers who have undergone appropriate and adequate training.
The PACE covers the following:
When an officer makes an arrest, they are personally responsible for the risk assessment and welfare of the detained person. This responsibility continues until the suspect is handed over to the custody officer for a decision regarding detention. For a member of the public to be detained at a police station the following must be addressed and considered by the Custody officer:
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the grounds for detention
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whether to grant bail
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whether to authorise or refuse detention
It is possible for an individual arrested not to be detained if the custody officer believes that there are insufficient grounds for detention. The reasons must be and the detainee must be released.