Recommendation - Metropolitan Police Service, February 2023
We identified organisational learning from a review following other handling.
A complainant, who was arrested for affray, raised a number of concerns about the way he was treated as a legally blind person. When in custody he asked for an audio-recording of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act Codes of Practice. He was informed by an Inspector that they did not have such a recording. He was offered a copy in braille, but he does not know how to read in braille. He was also offered an appropriate adult but was not happy with this suggestion. As an alternative, he asked if an officer in custody could read it to him, which was not practical at the time.
IOPC reference
Recommendations
The IOPC recommends that the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) explores the options, to include making an audio-recording, to ensure the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 Codes of Practice are accessible in custody for detained persons with sight impairment. Any consideration of this learning recommendation should involve engagement with people or organisations with experience of visual impairments.
This follows a review of a complaint handled other than investigation where a complainant, with sight impairment, was detained in custody.
Although the complainant was offered the Police and Criminal Evidence 1984 Codes of Practice in braille, this person was unable to use this. Many visually impaired people do not read braille so this is often not an appropriate solution.
The relevant custody staff suggested to the complainant that he could discuss his concerns with an Appropriate Adult. The complainant, however, asked for the Codes of Practice to be read out to him in custody or for an audio-recording of the Codes of Practice. These options were not agreed to because 1) of the practicalities of a Detention Officer reading the Codes of Practice and 2) the Metropolitan Police Service does not have an audio-recording of the Codes of Practice that the complainant could listen to.
The Metropolitan Police Service may wish to consider whether the latter option, or other options are viable, to ensure that a person with sight impairment can access the Codes of Practice.
Do you accept the recommendation?
Yes
Accepted action:
The Metropolitan Police Service (“MPS”) has reviewed and accepts this recommendation by the IOPC. Whilst the MPS does not currently have a technological solution to address this issue, we are committed to identifying and developing technology to better support and care for visually impaired detained persons. Potential technological solutions are currently being explored and we have now identified a company who can provide an audio book. This is being presented to Met Detention’s Management Team for suitability and funding. In addition, we have engaged with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) to identify a further option to provide documentation in an audio format. The RNIB regularly provide different customers with audio documentation on a compact disc or memory stick. Whilst these technological solutions are being explored in more detail, the MPS will continue to make use of Appropriate Adults to confirm all documentation for detained persons with sight impairment in addition to reading any relevant sections of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 Codes of Practice for detained persons whilst in custody.