A TRANSGENDER detainee was called “the thing” and “it” by a custody officer while waiting to appear in court.

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons was “disturbed” to learn of the incident, a report published today said.

It was listed as one of a catalogue of failings in Sussex and Surrey court custody facilities in findings released by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons.

Custody suites in Sussex, including those in Lewes, Hove and Brighton, were assessed by inspectors.

HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) is responsible for the facilities and pay private company GeoAmey to provide prisoner escort staff. A series of improvements are expected, the report’s author said.

Inspectors found the management of court custody was “ineffective” and “detainee care was adversely affected as a result”.

Other “serious shortcomings” highlighted included officers not keeping accurate records of visits to cells to check prisoners, and the unnecessary double-cuffing of detainees – handcuffing them, then locking them to an officer – the report said.

Graffiti-covered, cold and dirty cells were seen in Lewes and Hove courts as well as others, and a lack of privacy while detainees used toilets was raised as another concern.

Non-English-speaking prisoners were being remanded in custody when an interpreter was unavailable, and children faced “unacceptable” long delays as they awaited court hearings, the report stated.

Key information about health conditions, such as psychosis, was missing which caused problems when cells were shared.

A lack of understanding of different cultural and religious backgrounds and concerns about a lack of staff, particularly female, were listed. Sometimes cells were so full people had to sit on the floor.

“Often detainees arrived in court custody from prisons and police stations without medication for the day, which was unacceptable,” inspectors found.

An HMCTS spokeswoman said the recommendations would be addressed as soon as possible by HMCTS, GeoAmey and the National Offender Management Service.

She added: “A programme of deep cleaning is already in place and is carried out twice yearly for courts in Surrey and Sussex.”

Martin Pattenden, chief inspector for custody at Sussex Police, said the force would study the report’s findings to see if improvements can be made.

He said: “We have not received any feedback about this being an issue until now. When detainees have medication, it is our practice to pass that medication to the court escorting officers.”

GeoAmey were unable to provide a statement at the time of publication.