We have, through our Professional Standards and Quality Committee, retained overall responsibility for all aspects of the Scheme's general management and administration.

However, we have created ten panels to administer the scheme locally - to reflect accurately local needs and problems. All custody visitors are members of their local panel. The panels have been given certain responsibilities for the day to day local management of the scheme, these include:

• Monitoring all aspects of the scheme
• Ensuring all custody visitors are used efficiently and effectively
• Ensuring all police stations receive an appropriate number of visits
• Monitoring comments made by custody visitors
• Advising on the recruitment of custody visitors

Each panel circulates to its members a rota of visits which outlines which custody visitors are responsible for visiting stations during a specified period. It does not define a specific date or time for visits.

We require that all custody visitors participate in this rota. We also require that custody visitors conduct at least one visit every three months.