A police force has been criticized by regulators for leaving some cells “dirty” and not having “sufficient supervision” of its custody rooms.

Inspectors said they found “badly stained” toilets at Thames Valley Police stations when they visited in July and urged senior leaders to make improvements.

Incidents involving force also need better scrutiny to ensure it is always “justified, necessary and proportionate”, HM Inspectorate of Police and Fire and Rescue Services and the Care Quality Commission said.

Thames Valley Police have been contacted for comment.

Around 34,000 people were arrested by Thames Valley Police in 2023/2024 and placed in one of 132 cells across Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire.

While inspectors found senior leaders were “actively involved in seeking to improve custodial services”, they said the force had not made sufficient progress in the areas. outlined in a 2018 report.

In six of 20 incidents reviewed by regulators, detainees were not properly restrained or handcuffs were not properly applied.

In one case, an inmate managed to escape while waiting to be arrested. Another changed the position of the handcuffs.

Two other inmates attempted self-harm while waiting to be booked.

The vacancies meant staff were “sometimes late” and could not arrange for inmates to shower or exercise, the report said.

Force leaders have acknowledged that improvements are needed and there are plans to rebuild custody flats in Maidenhead and undertake renovations at Loddon Valley.

But a major concern was found in Milton Keynes, where a ceiling mirror was “angled so that detention officers (could) have a full view of an inmate showering while monitoring him for safety reasons”.

Regulators said this was “completely inappropriate”.

They said the condition of the custody rooms “varies.”

“Many common areas are reasonably well maintained, although some cells were dirty and toilets in cells at Loddon Valley, Maidenhead and Milton Keynes were heavily stained,” the report added.