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Our research on the care of vegans in Police Constabularies began in February 2003 after it was increasingly brought to our attention there was a limited knowledge of how to care for vegans while detained in police custody. Our aim is to provide sufficient information to all Police Constabularies in order for them to ensure adequate provisions are in place for any vegans detained in their care.
To this end VPSG contacted every constabulary in the country in order to obtain an overall picture of guidelines in place regarding vegans held in custody. The replies received were very varied, but the majority of police forces appeared keen to improve the situation.
In order to bring our records up to date we provided a new questionnaire to each constabulary in January 2007. The information we requested was whether their custody suites -
- are able to provide ambient meals suitable for vegans when required
- are able to prepare/cook vegan meals on site when required
- are authorised to purchase food/drink suitable for vegans when required
- are able to provide soya milk
- are able to provide vegan toiletries if required
The information on the returned questionnaires is contained in the following section. This information is invaluable in assisting anyone to ensue equal opportunities are provided to vegans detained in police custody suites. Italicized comments are summaries of additional information provided by constabularies. Constabularies wishing to correct/update information shown below should contact the Police Project Co-ordinator via info@vpsg.info
| Constabulary |
Comments |
| Avon and Somerset |
18/07/07 – all custody suites can provide ambient vegan meals*, none prepare/cook vegan meals on-site, all can purchase from local stores when required, soya milk not stocked, awaiting further research re suitability of issue toiletries. |
| Bedfordshire |
07/02/07 – some custody suites can provide ambient vegan meals and/or local hospital can cook and provide on request, none prepare/cook vegan meals on-site, all can purchase from local stores when required, soya milk not stocked, issue toiletries are not suitable for vegans. |
| Cambridgeshire |
10/08/07 – some custody suites can provide ambient vegan meals*, some can purchase from local stores when required, soya milk not stocked, issue toiletries not suitable for vegans. |
| Channel Islands Guernsey |
11/07/07 - custody suites cannot provide ambient vegan meals, vegan meals not prepared/cooked on-site, can purchase from local stores, soya milk not stocked, issue toiletries not suitable for vegans. Suitable items will be purchased from local health shops when required. |
| Cheshire |
14/02/07 – some custody suites can provide ambient vegan meals*, none prepare/cook vegan meals on-site, all can purchase from local stores when required, soya milk not stocked, issue toiletries except soap suitable for vegans ***. Contract provides for all catering/welfare issues, items not stocked will be purchased, food will be accepted for vegans detained. |
| City of London |
31/01/07 – station canteens can provide vegan meals when open, custody suites cannot prepare/cook vegan meals, some can purchase from local stores when required, soya milk not stocked, issue toiletries not suitable for vegans. Meet needs of vegans detained as far as possible. |
| Cleveland |
02/10/07 – custody suites cannot provide ambient vegan meals, none prepare/cook vegan meals on-site, all can purchase from local stores when required, soya milk not stocked, issue toiletries not suitable for vegans. Where identified individuals’ needs accommodated. |
| Cumbria |
18/07/07 – all custody suites can provide ambient vegan meals ***, none prepare/cook vegan meals on-site, all can purchase from local stores when required, soya milk not stocked, awaiting further research re suitability of toiletries. Give full consideration to meeting needs of vegans detained, food etc will be accepted from family/friends. |
| Derbyshire |
02/02/07 - all custody suites can provide ambient vegan meals*, all can purchase from local stores when required, soya milk not stocked, issue toiletries are not suitable for vegans. Every effort is made to meet the needs of vegans detained in custody. |
| Devon and Cornwall |
12/07/07 – some custody suites can provide ambient vegan meals*, none prepare/cook vegan meals on-site, all can purchase from local stores when required, soya milk not stocked, issue toiletries not suitable for vegans. |
| Dorset |
18/07/07 – some custody suites can provide ambient vegan meals*, some can prepare/cook vegan meals on-site, all can purchase from local stores when required, soya milk not stocked, issue toiletries not suitable for vegans. Always try to meet needs of vegans detained. |
| Dumfries & Galloway |
31/01/07 - custody suites cannot provide vegan ambient meals, none prepare/cook vegan meals on-site, all can purchase from local stores when required, soya milk not stocked, awaiting further research re suitability of issue toiletries. Take all steps to meet needs of vegans detained. |
| Durham |
31/01/07 - all custody suites can provide ambient vegan meals*, none prepare/cook vegan meals on-site, none purchase from local stores when required, soya milk not stocked, issue toiletries are not suitable for vegans. |
| Dyfed-Powys |
01/02/07 - all custody suites can provide ambient vegan meals*, none prepare/cook vegan meals on-site, all can purchase from local stores when required, soya milk not stocked, issue toiletries are not suitable for vegans. Will make every effort to meet needs of vegans detained in custody. |
| Essex |
12/07/07 – all custody suites can provide ambient vegan meals*, none prepare/cook vegan meals on-site, none can purchase from local stores, soya milk not stocked, issue toiletries not suitable for vegans. |
| Fife |
13/07/07 - all custody suites can provide vegan meals via contract with local hospital experienced in meeting special dietary requirements***, none prepare/cook vegan meals on-site, all can purchase from local stores, soya milk not stocked, awaiting further research re suitability of toiletries. |
| Gloucestershire |
10/07/07 – some custody suites can provide ambient vegan meals*, none prepare/cook vegan meals on-site, all can purchase from local stores when required, soya milk not stocked, issue toiletries not suitable for vegans. Make every effort to meet needs of vegans detained. |
| Grampian |
08/03/07 - vegan food purchased from local health shop when required, can be prepared/cooked on-site, all custody suites can purchase from local stores when required, soya milk not stocked, issue toiletries not suitable for vegans. |
| Greater Manchester Police |
- no reply |
| Gwent |
21/07/07 – all custody suites can provide ambient vegan meals*, all can prepare/cook vegan meals on-site, all can purchase from local stores when required, soya milk not stocked, awaiting further research re suitability of issue toiletries. |
| Hampshire |
30/01/07 – all custody suites can provide ambient vegan meals ***, all can prepare/cook vegan meals on-site, cannot purchase from local stores, soya milk not stocked, issue toiletries are not suitable for vegans. |
| Hertfordshire |
24/07/07 – all custody suites can provide ambient vegan meals*, none prepare/cook vegan meals on-site, all can purchase from local stores when required, soya milk not stocked, issue toiletries are suitable for vegans**. |
| Humberside |
05/02/07 – all custody suites can provide ambient vegan meals*, all can prepare/cook vegan meals on-site, all can purchase from local stores when required, soya milk not stocked, awaiting further research re suitability of issue toiletries. |
| Isle of Man |
09/07/07 - custody suites cannot provide vegan meals, none prepare/cook vegan meals on-site, all can purchase from local stores when required, issue toiletries not suitable for vegans. |
| Kent |
24/02/07 – custody suites cannot provide ambient vegan meals, some can prepare/cook vegan meals on-site, all can purchase from local stores when required, soya milk not stocked, issue toiletries are not suitable for vegans. |
| Lancashire |
24/07/07 – custody suites cannot provide ambient vegan meals, some can prepare/cook vegan meals on-site, all can purchase from local stores when required, soya milk not stocked, issue toiletries not suitable for vegans. |
| Leicestershire |
29/03/07 – do not have the information requested, in the longer term hope to be able to advise. |
| Lincolnshire |
12/02/07 – some custody suites can provide ambient vegan meals*, all can prepare/cook vegan meals on-site, all can purchase from local stores when required, soya milk not stocked, awaiting further research re suitability of toiletries. |
| Lothian and Borders |
01/02/07 – all custody suites purchase vegan meals when required, none prepare/cook vegan meals on-site, all can purchase from local stores when required, soya milk not stocked, issue toiletries are not suitable for vegans. |
| Merseyside |
14/08/07 – custody suites cannot provide ambient vegan meals, none prepare/cook vegan meals on site, all can purchase from local stores when required, soya milk not stocked, issue toiletries not suitable for vegans. Respect individuals’ needs and purchase appropriate items when required. |
| Metropolitan Police Service |
21/03/07 - all custody suites can provide ambient vegan meals*, all can prepare/cook vegan meals on-site when catering units open, no specific policy re local purchase but boroughs may have local practices, soya milk not stocked, issue toiletries are identified as vegan-friendly by supplier***. |
| Norfolk |
- no reply |
| North Wales |
14/02/07 - custody suites cannot provide ambient vegan meals, none prepare/cook vegan meals on-site, all can purchase from local stores when required, soya milk not stocked, issue toiletries not suitable for vegans. |
| North Yorkshire |
02/08/07 – all custody suites can provide ambient vegan meals ***, all can purchase from local stores when required, soya milk not stocked, awaiting further research re suitability of issue toiletries. |
| Northamptonshire |
02/02/07 – all custody suites can provide ambient vegan meals*, none prepare/cook vegan meals on–site, cannot purchase from local store when required, soya milk not stocked, awaiting further research re suitability of issue toiletries. |
| Northern Ireland |
02/08/07 - canteens prepare vegan meals during 9am-5pm period, will purchase suitable meals from local stores when canteens closed, consideration to purchasing vegan toiletries will be given when required. Views of detainees are sought, where appropriate vegan meals/items will be offered, will accept food/items from family/friends subject to security and custody/officer discretion. |
| Northumbria |
05/02/07 - all custody suites can provide ambient vegan meals*, none prepare/cook vegan meals on-site, all can purchase from local stores when required, soya milk not stocked, issue toiletries are not suitable for vegans.. |
| Nottingham |
- no reply |
| South Wales |
26/02/07 – some custody suites can provide ambient vegan meals***, none prepare/cook vegan meals on-site, some can purchase from local stores when required, soya milk not stocked, issue toiletries not suitable for vegans. |
| South Yorkshire |
01/02/07 – all custody suites can provide ambient vegan meals*, none prepare/cook vegan meals on-site, all can purchase from local stores when required, soya milk not stocked, issue toiletries not suitable for vegans. Needs of detained vegans addressed at time of detention. |
| Staffordshire |
06/07/07 – all custody suites can provide ambient vegan meals ***, none prepare/cook vegan meals on-site, all can purchase from local stores when required, soya milk not stocked, issue toiletries are not suitable for vegans. |
| Strathclyde |
31/07/07 - all custody suites can provide ambient vegan meals***, all can prepare/cook vegan meals on-site, all can purchase from local stores when required, soya milk not stocked, awaiting further research re suitability of issue toiletries. Appropriate items will be purchased as requested/required. |
| Suffolk |
12/07/07 – some custody suites can provide ambient vegan meals*, none prepare/cook vegan meals on-site, all can purchase from local stores when required, soya milk not stocked, issue toiletries not suitable for vegans. |
| Surrey |
19/02/07 – all custody suites can provide ambient vegan meals*, none prepare/cook vegan meals on-site, all can purchase from local stores when required, soya milk not stocked, issue toiletries are suitable for vegans**. |
| Sussex |
25/07/07 – all custody suites can provide ambient vegan meals*, none prepare/cook vegan meals on-site, all can purchase from local stores when required, soya milk not stocked, issue toiletries are suitable for vegans**. |
| Tayside Police |
11/07/07 - all custody suites provide Unilever Pot Noodles (some flavours are suitable for vegans), none prepare vegan meals on-site, all can purchase from local stores when required, some stock soya milk, issue toiletries not suitable for vegans. |
| Thames Valley |
01/02/07 – all custody suites can provide ambient vegan meals*, none prepare/cook vegan meals on-site, none can purchase from local stores when required, further research required re suitability of toiletries. |
| Warwickshire |
- no reply |
| West Mercia |
22/08/07 – all custody suites can provide ambient vegan meals*, all can purchase from local stores when required, soya milk available, issue toiletries not suitable for vegans. |
| West Midlands |
12/02/07 – unable to advise if ambient vegan meals can be provided, all can prepare/cook vegan meals on-site, all can purchase from local stores when required, soya milk not stocked, issue toiletries are not suitable for vegans. |
| West Yorkshire |
- no reply |
| Wiltshire |
13/07/07 – all custody suites can provide ambient vegan meals*, none prepare/cook vegan meals on-site, all can purchase from local stores when required, soya milk not stocked, issue toiletries are suitable for vegans** |
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