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Methodology
8. HMICS and HIS undertook a wide range of activities during the baseline review of healthcare provision in custody to inform the development of our custody inspection methodology. These activities are outlined in the aforementioned report published in January 2023. As a result, the following key stages have been undertaken for this inspection and will form the basis of future joint inspections.
9. HIS requested key pieces of evidence in advance of the onsite inspection relevant to healthcare provision. On the first day of the inspection, HIS inspectors issued a letter to the respective HSCPs to request a follow-up meeting with NHS managers to allow the inspection team to discuss key issues arising from the onsite inspection and the review of evidence.
10. During the inspection, we examined the treatment of, and conditions for, detainees at the centres. We observed key custody processes and assessed the custody environment, condition of cells and facilities for detainees. We undertook interviews with custody staff and managers, as well as healthcare practitioners (HCP) that were present during our visit. We also spoke with people detained in custody at the time.
11. A proportional sample of custody records were examined from those created across all custody centres in the Argyll and West Dunbartonshire police division during March 2024. Of the 563 records for that period, 473 related to people processed at Clydebank. The remainder were spread across the smaller centres. We sampled 10% of the 563 records for review on NCS.
12. The sample was selected to be broadly representative of the proportions of men, women and children held in custody during the aforementioned period. Based upon this, sampling was weighted to ensure that women and children were included during random selection.
13. The review of NCS records provided valuable information on aspects of risk assessment, observation levels, and compliance with the expectations of the Police Scotland care and welfare of detainees, standard operating procedure.