Recurring concern
Unreliable recording in police custody records
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Request correctionFirst reported 6 Jan 2014•Latest report 23 Oct 2024
What this concern includes
Includes failures of the police custody-recording process that result in inaccurate, incomplete, omitted or misleading records of force, healthcare referrals, visits, observations, risks or other safety-relevant custody information.
Not included
- Excludes failures in the underlying custody care, observation, referral or force-management process when the custody record itself is not deficient.
- Excludes generic clinical or care-record deficiencies outside police custody.
- Excludes failures limited to custody handover or information transfer where the custody records are accurate and the problem is only communication between staff.
- Excludes administrative custody records that have no material safety relevance.
- Reports
- 13
- Individual concerns
- 27
- Date range
- 2014–2024
- Stated actions
- 22
Distinct published reports
A report can raise multiple concerns
First to latest report issue date
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports 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.
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
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Concerns raised1
Failure to record detailed information about detained persons’ mental health concerns
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.4
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Action
Provide custody staff with instruction and learning on recording detainees’ mental-health concerns through the Custody Newsletter, Custody Compendium and direct reminders to Custody Sergeants.
Stated by Northumbria Police -
Action
Review and update CJLD guidance for recording screening assessments, mental-health concerns, risks, clinical reasoning, referrals and handovers on electronic custody records.
Stated by Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Circulate the updated operating procedure and train CJLD staff on required electronic-record entries and verbal handover documentation.
Stated by Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
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Action
Conduct monthly random audits of every CJLD staff member’s screening records and discuss audit outcomes in monthly clinical supervision to monitor implementation.
Stated by Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
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Concerns raised1
Lack of formal police documentation of family concerns about mental health deterioration
This report raised 11 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
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Action
Add information received from detainees’ families to the custody care plan so concerns are formally recorded and addressed.
Stated by Sussex Police -
Action
Complete and regularly review detainee risk assessments and care plans, recording changing physical or mental health information and responding to identified risks.
Stated by Sussex Police
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Concerns raised1
Lack of audit trail for signed constant observation forms and sergeant briefings
This report raised 8 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
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Action
Conduct compliance dip sampling, including CCTV checks, to verify constant-observation briefings and supervisory checks.
Stated by South Yorkshire Police -
Action
Consult the Performance and Governance team about activating body-worn video during constant observations.
Stated by South Yorkshire Police
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Concerns raised1
Insufficient identification, collation and recording of factors increasing detainee risk on the Niche system
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.4
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Action
Seek customer-force views on changes needed to reduce recurrence risk.
Stated by Niche Technology -
Action
Work with the Minerva Management Board to assess the reported risk-identification and recording issues.
Stated by Niche Technology -
Action
Add a Custody Record dropdown menu to capture factors increasing detainee risk.
Stated by Dorset Police
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Action
Amend Niche occurrence-log Section 2 to prompt consideration of detainee risk and vulnerability.
Stated by Dorset Police
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.3
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Position
Niche Technology cannot require customers to install patches or activate specific RMS changes.
Stated by Niche Technology
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Position
Many concerns in the report fall outside NHS England’s remit, so it can comment only on matters relevant to its functions.
Stated by NHS England -
Position
Dorset Police are better placed to respond to many concerns addressed to multiple parties involved in the case.
Stated by NHS England
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Concerns raised1
Failure to ensure that recorded risk grades have a clear shared meaning
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Concerns raised1
Inaccurate, irregular and unavailable records of incapacitated detainees
This report raised 17 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Concerns raised1
Delays in opening and entering information in custody records
This report raised 6 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Concerns raised4
Failure to accurately record suspected cannabis use
Failure to maintain consistent and accurate recording of alleged weapon threats
Failure to record force used during arrest
Failure to accurately record detainee injuries
This report raised 15 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Concerns raised1
Failure to record checks of PER completion and quality
This report raised 12 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
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Action
Use the next custody newsletter to reinforce PER completion, inspection, warning-page, envelope, risk-marker and external-information responsibilities.
Stated by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary
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Concerns raised1
Custody-record systems that readily permit errors
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Data last updated 7 September 2026