For 3 hours once a month I visit the Hampshire Police Custody Suite in Portsmouth as a voluntary independent auditor to ensure that detainees are being treated properly. Today was my January 2025 visit. If you’ve watched 24 Hours in Police Custody or you’ve had the pleasure of visiting a police cell in the last few years then you’ll have some idea about how things work. Reassuringly it’s not like The Sweeney or Life on Mars!

As an Independent Custody Visitor I spend time with detainees and Custody Officers checking that all is in accordance with the law and that detainees are dealt with appropriately - in short being treated in the way you would hope to be treated if you have the misfortune of being detained.

Independent Custody Visitors are vetted and trained to carry out the role and according to the official bumf are normal members of the public - clearly I managed to act sufficiently normal to get through the vetting process!

I’ve shared my official portrait and a photo of the Eastern Police Investigation Centre where you would probably end up if you’re arrested in Portsmouth. Understandably I didn’t take any photos from inside the building!

M - morning commute

O - oh no, the train is late!

N - no resting after circuits training

D - doggy beach run

A - Aida taking the air

Y - yomping the Wayfarer's Walk

M - moonlit walkies

I - in between meetings

L - lunchtime loop (the long way round)

E - employment exercise

S - school runs / cycles

After the food bank 🥫 we all helped pack up. Richard packed up the food store and reordered for next week. The rest of us helped pack down out front, packing away tables and chairs 🪑, washing up and sweeping. I got my hands on the giant broom that I'd seen others have fun with in previous weeks, it was just as much fun as it looks!! 🧹

There was lots of fun and laughter 🙂 at the food bank today and lots of cans🥫🥫🥫! Richard, Yvonne and Lisa made up 27 food crates in the store room. It was good to have Richard back as he did most of the work!! 😉 We helped with collecting the order tickets, taking the parcels to be weighed and with the toiletries orders. Fiona was on the desk manning the computer as usual. Lucy was kept busy in the cafe ☕🍰, as we are still short of regular volunteers.