This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/the-northerner/2013/mar/11/sheffield-police-and-crime-commissioners
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| The great-gran who keeps an eye on Sheffield's police | The great-gran who keeps an eye on Sheffield's police |
| (25 days later) | |
| Suspects picked up by police in South Yorkshire may have to spend a night in the cells but they can look forward to a visit from a spirited great-grandmother who turned 90 this year. | Suspects picked up by police in South Yorkshire may have to spend a night in the cells but they can look forward to a visit from a spirited great-grandmother who turned 90 this year. |
| Vera Miles is an independent custody visitor, or ICV. Every few weeks for the past 21 years – since the system was introduced, in fact – she has turned up at a police station unannounced to check on the welfare of detainees. | Vera Miles is an independent custody visitor, or ICV. Every few weeks for the past 21 years – since the system was introduced, in fact – she has turned up at a police station unannounced to check on the welfare of detainees. |
| She is in charge of a group of 14 volunteers who take turns to visit police stations in south Sheffield. She draws up the rota, deals with any problems within her team and goes on a custody visit herself once every two or three weeks. The police never know when any of them are going to turn up. | She is in charge of a group of 14 volunteers who take turns to visit police stations in south Sheffield. She draws up the rota, deals with any problems within her team and goes on a custody visit herself once every two or three weeks. The police never know when any of them are going to turn up. |
| After arriving without warning, the volunteers are immediately taken to the cells. They make sure the detainees are being treated properly, have been given all the information they should have and have enough food, water and blankets. The detainees are usually very polite, said Vera, if a little surprised to see her. "They immediately think I'm from the church," she said. | After arriving without warning, the volunteers are immediately taken to the cells. They make sure the detainees are being treated properly, have been given all the information they should have and have enough food, water and blankets. The detainees are usually very polite, said Vera, if a little surprised to see her. "They immediately think I'm from the church," she said. |
| The independent custody visiting scheme was introduced in response to the 1981 Brixton riots to counter growing mistrust of the police force and increase its accountability. Volunteers are approved and selected by the Police and Crime Commissioner's office, formerly the Police Authority, but in practice they are independent of the force. The system was introduced to South Yorkshire in 1992. Before that random checks were carried out by councillors. | The independent custody visiting scheme was introduced in response to the 1981 Brixton riots to counter growing mistrust of the police force and increase its accountability. Volunteers are approved and selected by the Police and Crime Commissioner's office, formerly the Police Authority, but in practice they are independent of the force. The system was introduced to South Yorkshire in 1992. Before that random checks were carried out by councillors. |
| Vera signed up in the first wave of recruitment – her first custody visit took place in December 1992. The second oldest member of her team, at 85, is also the only other member to have stayed the course for 21 years. | Vera signed up in the first wave of recruitment – her first custody visit took place in December 1992. The second oldest member of her team, at 85, is also the only other member to have stayed the course for 21 years. |
| Volunteer work such as the custody visiting keeps Vera busier than she was before she retired, she said. | Volunteer work such as the custody visiting keeps Vera busier than she was before she retired, she said. |
| You see how lucky you are that you are not in that position and also that none of your family are in that position. I like it, and it keeps me off the street corners! No, I wouldn't really be on street corners. But it makes me feel how lucky I am. | You see how lucky you are that you are not in that position and also that none of your family are in that position. I like it, and it keeps me off the street corners! No, I wouldn't really be on street corners. But it makes me feel how lucky I am. |
Vera wants to still be doing custody visits when she's 100. | Vera wants to still be doing custody visits when she's 100. |
| I think it's important because you always hear the downside of policing and I think they deserve a bit of praise, because it can't be a nice job. Sometimes you need the patience of a saint I should think with some people, particularly the drunks. It's not a very nice job at all. | I think it's important because you always hear the downside of policing and I think they deserve a bit of praise, because it can't be a nice job. Sometimes you need the patience of a saint I should think with some people, particularly the drunks. It's not a very nice job at all. |
| If I can do anything, really, to make people see the police in a better light I feel that it's the right thing to do. | If I can do anything, really, to make people see the police in a better light I feel that it's the right thing to do. |
South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner Shaun Wright said: | South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner Shaun Wright said: |
| To volunteer to work in any public sector demonstrates a public-spirited attitude that has to be applauded. Independent volunteers like Vera provide a vital service that helps secure greater public understanding and confidence in policing. | To volunteer to work in any public sector demonstrates a public-spirited attitude that has to be applauded. Independent volunteers like Vera provide a vital service that helps secure greater public understanding and confidence in policing. |
Vera heard about the scheme as a member of the Standing Conference of Women's Organisations. With their help she used to run 'health days' all over the country in the early 1990s, inviting health specialists to lecture and give advice to the public. She has also held positions in various guilds and women's organisations, and is still a member of the City Guild. | Vera heard about the scheme as a member of the Standing Conference of Women's Organisations. With their help she used to run 'health days' all over the country in the early 1990s, inviting health specialists to lecture and give advice to the public. She has also held positions in various guilds and women's organisations, and is still a member of the City Guild. |
| "My husband was a mason," said Vera. "He encouraged me to continue all this, even when he was very ill with Parkinson's. I was 80 then. He said, 'you will not get back into any of it if you stop now'. That's what I say to everyone. If you can do it, for goodness sake do it." | "My husband was a mason," said Vera. "He encouraged me to continue all this, even when he was very ill with Parkinson's. I was 80 then. He said, 'you will not get back into any of it if you stop now'. That's what I say to everyone. If you can do it, for goodness sake do it." |
| Vera was a shorthand typist for the Women's Royal Naval Service, and she worked in a mental hospital canteen in Hertfordshire and a family planning clinic in Harpenden, before becoming a medical research assistant in 1980. "I was really a bit peeved at having to leave at 60," she said, but added that she carried on as a volunteer after retirement. | Vera was a shorthand typist for the Women's Royal Naval Service, and she worked in a mental hospital canteen in Hertfordshire and a family planning clinic in Harpenden, before becoming a medical research assistant in 1980. "I was really a bit peeved at having to leave at 60," she said, but added that she carried on as a volunteer after retirement. |
| She has three daughters, four grandchildren and four great grandchildren, the youngest of whom is two years old. She moved with her husband to Sheffield in 1974 when he got a job as an accountant for Bassetts – the confectionary company which makes liquorice allsorts. | She has three daughters, four grandchildren and four great grandchildren, the youngest of whom is two years old. She moved with her husband to Sheffield in 1974 when he got a job as an accountant for Bassetts – the confectionary company which makes liquorice allsorts. |
| She never considered a quiet retirement. "What would I do?" she said. "I suppose there's gardening and housework. But if you can write your name in the dust, does it really matter? And if people complain I can give them a duster." | She never considered a quiet retirement. "What would I do?" she said. "I suppose there's gardening and housework. But if you can write your name in the dust, does it really matter? And if people complain I can give them a duster." |
| As well as visiting the cells, the ICVs also go to the kennels and check on the police dogs. Vera is particularly fond of them, though she wouldn't risk trying to pet one. Other groups of ICVs also check on the police horses. | As well as visiting the cells, the ICVs also go to the kennels and check on the police dogs. Vera is particularly fond of them, though she wouldn't risk trying to pet one. Other groups of ICVs also check on the police horses. |
| Vera is having an operation on her ankle later this month. If it all goes wrong she wants to have it amputated and then try to enter for the next Paralympics. | Vera is having an operation on her ankle later this month. If it all goes wrong she wants to have it amputated and then try to enter for the next Paralympics. |
| guardian.co.uk today is our daily snapshot of the top news stories, sent to your inbox at 8am |