Police Forces are struggling to work within tough new budget limitations. On top of this pressure new legislation has come in to effect whereby organisations such as the Police, MOD, Prison Service and private security firms can be prosecuted for corporate manslaughter if a death happens in their custody unit.
BBC NEWS UK, 1st September 2011 reported that the main legislation came into force three years ago for the private sector but the public sector including Police and MOD had until September this year to prepare for it. “See full BBC article”
The only way to reduce running costs whilst maintaining and improving health and safety in custody is to deploy technology to monitor detainees.
COMS24 monitors detainees’ movement and breathing and alarms when there is none. The system can be integrated with CCTV and detainees can be continually monitored from the custody desk, without risk of complacency because COMS24 can see movement when CCTV cannot.
The Home Office reckoned the cost of an investigation into a Death in Custody to be £1,250, 000 – five years ago – and this figure did not include any compensation or staff counselling costs.
Surrey Police equipped all cells in 4 custody suites for approximately one fifth of this figure.
Related Links:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14739854
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2007/19/contents