As COVID-19 restrictions begin to ease, volunteers who go into Norfolk’s police custody facilities to check on the welfare of those held there have restarted their visits.

Nearly 550 people detained by police in Norfolk’s custody facilities received a welfare check from community volunteers last year - according to a report published by the county’s PCC.

Volunteers who go into Norfolk’s police custody facilities to check on the welfare of those held there have done their first physical visits since they were put on hold due to COVID-19.

Unless you have spent time in police custody, you probably won’t have heard of custody visiting - a role from which Eric Langford is retiring after 15 years.

The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Norfolk has won a prestigious national award for the quality of its independent custody visiting scheme.

The dedication and commitment of one of Norfolk's Independent Custody Visitors - Rick Parry - has this week been recognised by the county’s PCC, Lorne Green.

Last year, custody visitors checked on over 700 detainees across the county. With the new year fast approaching, Norfolk’s PCC is putting out a call for more people to volunteer alongside them.

The PCC has welcomed findings from an inspection of police custody provision, which found strong governance arrangements and genuine understanding around protecting vulnerable people.