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Camden New Journal - by PAUL KEILTHY
Published: 26 July 2007

Police cell visitors restricted from talking to press

NEW rules governing volunteers’ visits to prisoners in police cells will gag campaigners and prevent abuses being highlighted, according to a Camden activist whose visiting rights have been removed after he refused to comply.
The plight of detainees in cells at police stations, often held there because of lack of space at immigration centres or prisons, has been repeatedly highlighted in the New Journal by Camden’s Independent Custody Visitors panel.
But former panel chairman Mick Farrant was stripped of his role after seven years when he refused to sign up to regulations imposed by the Metropolitan Police Authority which he claims limit access to the media by the visitors.
Mr Farrant said: “I can’t sign up to a scheme which limits our ability to talk to the press about non-confidential custody issues. People will be far less likely to raise issues in a feisty way that could have an effect on conditions in their local custody cells – we are supposed to be independent.”
Another 24 of London’s 350 custody volunteers have also refused to sign a ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ put out by the MPA, which has recently taken over responsibility for administering ICVs.
According to Mr Farrant, the rules would have prevented Camden ICV panel highlighting the case of Enzo Stompanato, who died in custody at Holborn police station in 2002. Two officers were warned for their conduct in the case.
An MPA spokesman said: “The ultimate goal is to maintain confidentiality, and it does not preclude chairs raising issues of concern – it just asks that these are discussed in advance with the authority.”

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