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Watchdogs can't see prisoners on CCTV
11:40am Monday 1st December 2008
Comments (16)Police officers have stopped independent custody visitors viewing prisoners on CCTV – in case they breach their human rights.
Members of the Sussex Police Authority, which oversees Sussex Police, is even worried the independent custody visitors (ICVs), should not view fixed CCTV in town centres.
As a result the authority’s committee responsible has agreed that the ICVs – members of the community appointed to make sure the welfare of people detained in police stations is maintained – viewing of CCTV footage in custody will be suspended.
The decision has been slammed by Nick Herbert, MP for Arundel and the South Downs. The Shadow Justice Secretary said: “This is absolutely ridiculous. These independent visitors are there to ensure the welfare of prisoners.
How can they possibly do so if they can’t see them?
“This won’t protect the rights of the prisoners. It will undermine them. It just shows how ludicrous the effect of the human rights act has become.”
The authority’s astonishing revelation was made in a report which said: “The ICV liaison inspector (Hastings custody inspector) raised concerns regarding ICVs viewing CCTV footage in custody.
“It was felt this could be a breach of detainees’ privacy, as they had not consented to being viewed in this way by ICVs.”
The report added that the ICV liaison inspector would seek clarification from the Home Office on the issue of ICVs monitoring fixed CCTV in town centres. An authority spokesman said: “Independent custody visitors started to view CCTV output when it was introduced to the custody facilities.
“This was as an addition to their face-to-face contact with detainees and was purely in the interests of checking on their welfare.
“The objective of their involvement was to provide reassurance to the wider community that the systems were operating fairly and properly.
“As stated in the Home Office/ACPO guidance document Safer Detention and Handling of Persons in Police Custody 2006, it is a matter of local discretion.
“We are carrying out a review of the scheme as a whole. In the meantime, custody CCTV monitoring by ICVs will be suspended, pending the outcome of the review.”
What do you think of the police fears over breaching human rights? Tell us below.
Your Say YourThe Argus
scoomer, Moulsecoomb says...
12:13pm Mon 1 Dec 08
I don't see anybody quoting any of the Human Rights Act: this is just a case of mischievous individuals within the police authority making up a possible issue in an attempt to discredit a piece of legislation which they want to see revoked.
Jonathon, Hove says...
12:22pm Mon 1 Dec 08
Your comments please Arther.
feline1, Brighton says...
12:25pm Mon 1 Dec 08
Wivvy Dave , Wivelsfield says...
12:38pm Mon 1 Dec 08
Arther Daley, all over the manor says...
12:45pm Mon 1 Dec 08
Jonathon wrote:Thank you Jonny. Dont really understand the story, but what i will say is this: The Police are already too powerful and too unaccountable, good lord they are about to get Taser guns, so every fresh faced chinless wonder of a pc and probably pcso will be able to zzap your derriere for the most minor of infringements.
The worst thing this country introduced was the Human Rights Act. The only people to benefit is the woman from Liberty, the human rights organisation and her cronies. British citizens lose out all the time. Your comments please Arther.
Osama bin there, Brighton says...
12:47pm Mon 1 Dec 08
Wouldn't be the first time.
davyboy, abingdon, oxon says...
1:04pm Mon 1 Dec 08
Tye wrote:totally agree!!
why do we bother?
WestWorthing, Worthing says...
1:37pm Mon 1 Dec 08
Moon Pig, Brighton says...
2:41pm Mon 1 Dec 08
Commit a crime, get viewed on CCTV whilst in custody. Seems fair to me.
They're prisoners, not hotel patrons! Tough if they don't like it, who flippin well cares what they want, they're locked up and don't have a choice.
I would have thought, as per WestWorthing's story that it might be better for someone independent to be looking anyway!
Moon Pig, Brighton says...
3:09pm Mon 1 Dec 08
Nice to see they're looking out for someone's interests.... just a shame it's not ours!
Tye, worthing says...
5:02pm Mon 1 Dec 08
It would stop a lot of crooks , thieves and murderers getting off due to the stupidity of the Jury or some Mr Loophole Lawyer
Osama bin there, Brighton says...
5:16pm Mon 1 Dec 08
Too right. How come the CPS's case against the policewoman who allegedly stole alcohol from the Shoreham dept store has been dropped?
feline1, Brighton says...
5:24pm Mon 1 Dec 08
sussex2, shoreham says...
4:11am Tue 2 Dec 08
In other countries its use is very much more restricted. Can you imagine a police station in the UK not having a blanket of CCTV surrounding it? In Spain such use of this spying system would not be allowed. A friend who has a bar with a CCTV system at the entrance was fined because, without their permission, it showed the faces of people passing in the street.
In the UK CCTV has been allowed to spread like wildfire in an unregulated and shotgun fashion.
Osama bin there, Brighton says...
1:36pm Tue 2 Dec 08
I see the case against the woman involved has been dropped by the CPS, even though there was substantial evidence against her ( according to the CPS).
Do you think that might happen to me if I help myself to some booze in M&S? I'm not a policeman, by the way.
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Tye, worthing says...
11:47am Mon 1 Dec 08