On January 27, 2026, residents in Kirkby, Merseyside, are being invited to join a targeted recruitment drive for volunteers to act as Independent Custody Visitors (ICVs) — independent community members who check that people held in police custody are being treated fairly. The scheme is run by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Merseyside (OPCC), led by Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell.
Volunteers work in pairs to make unannounced visits to custody suites listed by Merseyside Police, where they speak with detainees held in custody (with the detainee’s consent). They check that detainees are being held in humane conditions and that they have been informed of, and have access to, their legal rights, in line with the Home Office Code of Practice and the Independent Custody Visiting framework.
This recruitment follows recent updates from the Kirkby Neighbourhood Board regarding local safety and planned town-centre improvements tied to a £19.5m regeneration programme. Compassionate residents aged 18 and over who live or work in Merseyside are being encouraged to apply. Applicants should note eligibility restrictions: ICVs must be independent of the police (they cannot be serving police officers, special constables, magistrates, police staff or OPCC staff), and successful candidates will be subject to a non-police personnel vetting check and receive training before carrying out visits.
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