Unreliable safe-return arrangements after police custody release
First to latest report 13 Feb 2023 — 8 Jun 2023
Reports that mention this concern
2
Times this concern has been raised
3
Stated actions linked to this concern
4
What this concern includes
Includes dedicated police-custody release arrangements for getting released people safely to an address or other suitable accommodation, including provision or assessment of money and transport, guidance for release without an address, and coordination or escalation of material return-home needs.
What is not included
Excludes general custody healthcare, detention, missing-person, prisoner-transfer and mental-health processes unless they directly concern safe return after police custody release.
Excludes generic poverty, homelessness or transport deficiencies where the police-custody release arrangement is not the identified unsafe condition.
Excludes failures in care or support after the person has safely reached home or suitable accommodation.
Excludes release arrangements for prisoners leaving prison or high-risk offenders unless the assertion specifically concerns release from police custody.
Trends
Reports over time
Reports mentioning this concern, over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Association of Ambulance Chief Executives1
College of Policing1
Dorset Police1
Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service1
Maritime and Coastguard Agency1
National Fire Chiefs Council1
National Police Air Service1
National Police Chiefs’ Council1
NHS England1
Niche Technology UK Limited1
Royal National Lifeboat Institution1
South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust1
Wiltshire Police1
Police force2
Executive non-departmental public body1
Fire and rescue service1
Health-sector membership body1
Maritime rescue body1
Maritime safety agency1
National fire and rescue body1
National policing body1
NHS trust1
Private limited company1
Reports and published responses 2 reports
See individual reports that have raised this concern, and the actions taken in response
Dorset
Concerns raised1
Lack of guidance for releasing detainees without an address to reside at
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked responses
College of Policing
Dorset Police
National Police Chiefs’ Council
NHS England
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
College of Policing and National Police Chiefs’ Council
Maintain APP guidance on release of detainees without an address, including risk assessment, referrals and written self-referral information.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.5
Dorset Police
National guidance on releasing detainees without an address will be addressed by the College of Policing rather than Dorset Police.
Redirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
NHS England
Many concerns in the report fall outside NHS England’s remit, so it can comment only on matters relevant to its functions.
Outside remitThe respondent said that this matter was outside its role or authority.
NHS England
Dorset Police are better placed to respond to many concerns addressed to multiple parties involved in the case.
Redirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
NHS England
Police Custody Healthcare Services, rather than Liaison and Diversion, are responsible for custody physical healthcare and pre-release assessments.
Redirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
College of Policing and National Police Chiefs’ Council
Existing Detention and Custody APP guidance, including signposting and referrals before release, is considered sufficient for releasing people without a fixed address.
Existing arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Wiltshire and Swindon
Concerns raised2
Lack of money for people taken into Police custody to return to their home address
Lack of ready access to transport for people taken into Police custody to return to their home address
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
Wiltshire Police
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.3
Wiltshire Police
Implement the Ring B4 U Bring Scheme to capture detainees’ essential return-home information from arrest onward.
Wiltshire Police
Implement the Vulnerable Detainee Transportation Scheme, including risk-based public transport assessment, funded taxis and police transport home for the most vulnerable detainees.
Wiltshire Police
Provide training on the schemes to all new Custody Sergeants.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Wiltshire Police
Implemented detainee transportation schemes fully address the identified safety issues, so no additional measures are proposed.
Existing arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Actions and positions describe what organisations say in published responses. Implementation is not independently verified.
Actions and positions describe what organisations say in published responses. Implementation is not independently verified.