Custody suite surveillance

Freedom of Information (FOI) Act request ref: 01/FOI/23/5272

Version Date: 14/08/2023

The Criminal Justice Department have provided the following information.

1. Does Devon and Cornwall Constabulary currently use Oxehealth/Oxevision or any other video surveillance or technology enabled vital signs monitoring within custody suites?

Yes – we were the first police force in the country to trial and adopt this technology 

2. Where is this technology located?

A number of cells in 4 of our 6 custody centres have had the technology installed 

4. Copies of leaflets or information sheets related to Oxehealth/Oxevision or any other video surveillance or technology enabled vital signs monitoring in custody suites

Not applicable, albeit our centres do have signage displayed to inform that CCTV is operating in all areas of custody. 

5. Your organisation’s Equality Impact Assessments in relation to Oxehealth/Oxevision or any other video surveillance or technology enabled vital signs monitoring.

Whilst a specific EIA has not been undertaken as yet, guidance has been obtained from our medical health provider and briefed to our custody staff in terms of those members of society who would most benefit from the use of this technology, e.g. whilst not exclusive, this includes detainees who are intoxicated, at risk of self-harm, have moderate to severe heart disease, or are alcohol dependent 

6. Your organisation’s risk assessment in relation Oxehealth/Oxevision or any other video surveillance or technology enabled vital signs monitoring in custody suites.

Guidance has been provided to staff as to which medical conditions would most benefit from Oxehealth monitoring; the risk assessment undertaken when detainees arrive in custody would be discussed with an HCP where available and helps inform the plan for utilisation of an Oxehealth cell.

7. Your organisation’s operational and organisational policies and procedures relating to Oxehealth/Oxevision or any other video surveillance or technology enabled vital signs monitoring, including details of consent.

Not currently available - a briefing has been issued to staff, all new joiners to custody receive instruction on this in their initial training and there is our Custody Health & Safety Group where we review and evaluate particular cases of note, and we are in the process of reviewing the policy and procedures. 

8. Details of which services have the ability to use Oxehealth/Oxevision or any other video surveillance or technology enabled vital signs monitoring in custody suites.

Other than custody staff, only the custody healthcare service staff from our contracted service supplier have access to this system, to enable them to monitor detainees directly from the medical rooms in each centre 

9. Details about the decision-making process relating to adopting Oxehealth/Oxevision or any other video surveillance or technology enabled vital signs monitoring in custody suites.

A proposal for piloting this innovative tech, detailing it’s benefits to detainee safety vs the costs was submitted to the Force Executive and approved. Future installations would require an evidenced based business case detailing the costs and benefits for executive level approval 

10. Records of any training provided in using this technology.

Since 2019 when the system was installed all D&C Custody staff have all received instruction and training on the system. 

11. Details of where footage / information is stored

Oxehealth standalone system

12. Any Data Protection Impact Assessments for Oxehealth/Oxevision or any other video surveillance or technology enabled vital signs monitoring.

Service Agreements covering Data Protection requirements have been agreed between D&C Police and Oxehealth.