• 133 police officers returned to frontline duties
• Improving the accessibility of detainee data
• Improved care for approx 72,207 detainees each year
• Providing best value custody management

“All Forces are facing significant challenges and the custody environment is no exception. Reliance have shown a real commitment to delivering a quality service in all our suites which will help us overcome these challenges.” Chief Inspector Dave Cherrington.

Our customer
Thames Valley Police is committed to being as visible in the local community as possible. To achieve this, a strong emphasis on neighbourhood policing was key, which would involve a major shift in resources. Covering a wide and diverse area across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire, each HUB has responsibility for its own custody centres and everyone believed that there was a real opportunity to release valuable police resources back to the frontline – if they could find an organisation with fail-safe experience in providing custody services.

Key Services:

• Custody Management
• DNA, fingerprinting and photography, Footwear Impressions
• Drug testing
• Management of consumables
• Management of Livescan Fingerprint data
• Resourcing for special operations

Best value
Reliance has developed a best value model that ensures the right number of custody assistants are always allocated to detainees. The model helps us to optimise efficiency and create a safe environment for police officers, detainees and the Reliance team.

Uniquely skilled
Because custody management relies more and more on technology, we have developed our own suite of skills and technology training modules. This keeps each Reliance team at the cutting-edge of both service delivery and information technology.

Part of modern policing
Beyond taking fingerprints and photographs, the Reliance team is trained to use Video Witness technology for identification procedures and is also authorised to apply The Chief Constable’s designated powers of force for taking samples without detainee consent. Reliance manages and administers the data collection and verification of each arrest before information is transmitted to the central database. It is our rapid completion of these processes that allows arresting officers to spot any correlations with existing information on the central police database.

At three of the custody centres, we are involved in the ‘Tough Choices’ drug testing programme, where highly trained Reliance Drug Intervention Officers collect samples from detainees. Each team member is thoroughly versed in the practicalities of collecting and testing and fully aware of the consequences for detainees if they test positive. Every effort is made to ensure that samples are processed efficiently, so that results are never needlessly delayed.

Proven success
The confidence that Thames Valley police have in Reliance was demonstrated when they re-awarded us the contract for Custody in August 2008.