Custody healthcare procedure 711/2026

FOI Reference: 711/2026

Request:

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, please provide the following recorded information about the current process used for custody healthcare:

1. Please describe the current process for requesting that a healthcare professional attend or assess a detainee in police custody.
2. What system is currently used to record or manage that request?
3. Who enters the request onto the system: police custody staff, the healthcare provider’s control room, the healthcare professional, or another person?
4. Is the system used for those requests known as SUMS, or the Service User Management System?
5. How is the healthcare professional notified that a request for attendance or assessment has been made?
6. How does the healthcare professional record that the assessment has been completed and document its outcome?
7. Is the outcome entered onto the police custody system, such as Niche or another system, and if so, who makes that entry?
8. Do police officers or police custody staff have direct access to SUMS?
9. Do healthcare professionals have direct access to Niche or any other police custody-record system?
10. Where a police officer requires a written witness statement from a healthcare professional:
    1. what system is used to make and record that request; and
    2. who enters the request onto that system: the requesting police officer, other police staff, the healthcare provider, the healthcare professional, or another person?

I am requesting information about the current systems and process only. I am not requesting any personal, clinical or detainee-specific information.

Response 1:

I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, as outlined below.

Request booked through online digital platform (SUMS) by Custody Staff. Health Care Professional (HCP) picks up request and allocates themselves to the call.

Response 2:

I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, as outlined below.

SUMS.

Response 3:

I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, as outlined below.

Police Custody Staff.

Response 4:

I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, as outlined below.

Yes.

Response 5:

I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, as outlined below.

No alert to say on SUMS, the system will be monitored. However, a verbal request will also be made by the Custody Staff.

Response 6:

I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, as outlined below.

Start and finish times and outcome are recorded on SUMS. Also, a verbal handover provided to the Sergeant.

Response 7:

I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, as outlined below.

It is entered onto Niche by the HCP.

Response 8:

I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, as outlined below.

Yes.

Response 9:

I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, as outlined below.

Yes.

Response 10:

I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, as outlined below.

1. SUMS
2. Requesting officer for the statement sends an email to the police services admin team, with details of the request and that is emailed on a secure network to the HCP.

This is a response under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and disclosed on 31/07/2026.