Recurring concern
Failure to ensure custody staff understand and apply detention procedures
Pin
Get email alerts
Request correctionFirst reported 15 Oct 2014•Latest report 25 Jul 2025
What this concern includes
Includes failures in the custody-staff competence process for understanding and applying detention law, powers, codes, custody procedures and management requirements, including inadequate initial training, insufficient refresher provision, unclear guidance and failures to assure continuing knowledge among police, detention, nursing or other staff performing custody functions.
Not included
- Excludes generic staff training or competence deficiencies where detention or custody procedures are not the material safety concern.
- Excludes prison reception, healthcare, observation, emergency-response and other custody processes when the reported deficiency is not staff understanding or application of detention procedures.
- Excludes failures in the substantive law or design of detention powers where staff competence, training or application is not the shared unsafe condition.
- Excludes clinical competence, treatment and safeguarding training unrelated to staff exercising or supporting detention and custody functions.
- Reports
- 6
- Individual concerns
- 7
- Date range
- 2014–2025
- Stated actions
- 4
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.
-
Concerns raised1
Lack of police training on communicating s.136 detention decisions and reasons
This report raised 10 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.
-
Concerns raised1
Failure of ward nurses to use section 5(4) powers to prevent unsafe patient departure
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.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
-
Concerns raised1
Lack of comprehensive knowledge of custody law and procedures among custody staff
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.1
-
Action
Provide comprehensive PACE and APP training before custody work and annual refresher training for custody staff.
Stated by West Yorkshire Police
-
Concerns raised1
Lack of regular detention awareness refresher training
This report raised 5 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
-
Action
Implement regular refresher Detention Awareness training for Morton Hall staff.
Stated by Home Office and Ministry of Justice
-
Concerns raised2
Insufficient staff training in the section 136 procedure for police handovers
Insufficient staff training in powers of detention and their appropriate use
This report raised 5 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
-
Action
Provide Section 136 procedure training to nursing and medical staff through induction, follow-up training and continuing medical education.
Stated by Hywel Dda University LHB -
Action
Provide ongoing Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act training to update clinicians on detention powers.
Stated by Hywel Dda University LHB
-
Concerns raised1
Lack of knowledge among Senior Custodial Managers of segregation transfer requirements
This report raised 3 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