Enforcement Jobs

Custody assistants are there to aid the police in the process of arresting and detaining individuals in a custody suite.  They are also partially responsible for the welfare of the detainee and carry out a number of related responsibilities. They are civilian members of the UK police force are typically under the direction of a single chief police officer. Their powers were outlined in the Police Reform Act of 2002 and their superior officer can hand these on to assistants at their own discretion.

Some of their day-to-day roles include: searching arrested individuals, ensuring that they aren't carrying any harmful objects on them, assisting with the physical arrest of he or she, documenting their personal details, taking their photograph and taking DNA and fingerprint samples for criminal records files, helping with the day-to-day operation and admin of the custody suite and performing checks on them at allocated intervals ensuring health and safety requirements are being accurately administered.

The position holder would desirably be experienced in assisting the police force in a similar front line civilian role or in a position that requires them to deal closely with prisoners in a detainment setting. What is essential, though, is that they display strong team work and organisational skills and that they are able to follow strict rules and procedures in a consistently accurate way.

Qualifications: There are no specific academic pre-entry requirements, but a solid standard of education including GCSEs would be preferable.

Experience: In a police assistance or prisoner detainment setting would be favorable, though not essential.

Skills: Organisational skills, team work skills, the ability to follow instructions and procedures accurately.