Custody Sergeant

Post Title: Custody Sergeant
Contract Type: Full Time (to cover maternity leave until May 2027)
Shift Pattern: This role operates on a rotating shift pattern to meet operational requirements which may include early, late and weekend working. Full shift pattern details will be shared at the appropriate stage of the recruitment process.
Rank: Police Sergeant or Temporary Sergeant (as defined below)
Directorate/Department: Specialist Operations / Criminal Justice / Custody
Location: Bishopsgate
Salary: National Police Scales
Statement of Expectation: Temporary maternity cover until May 2027
Vetting Level Required: MV/SC

Internal officers may be required to undertake a vetting check before moving to the role.

Eligibility

Regulations state that an officer can only be Temporarily Promoted to the ranks of Sergeant and Inspector if they are suitably qualified.

The regulations define being qualified as:

• Having passed the necessary examination; and
• Having commenced, or completed, the Work-Based Assessment (WBA).

Applications are invited from substantive Sergeants or Temporary Sergeants (as defined above) to undertake the role of Custody Officer within our Custody Cadre in Specialist Operations, Criminal Justice Services.

About the Department

The City of London Police is keen to promote flexible working and will, subject to operational policing requirements, proactively consider all applications to work flexibly.

The City of London Police is committed to equal opportunities and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.

The City of London Police is proud to provide an exceptional service and, within this role, the successful candidate will make a tangible contribution to the Force.

The successful applicant will be required to perform the role of a Custody Sergeant within the dedicated Custody Cadre, working a 24/7 shift pattern.

The postholder will form part of the wider Criminal Justice Services team, which includes Custody and Administration of Justice, reporting to the DCI and Superintendent, Criminal Justice Services.

Role Purpose

Working within our 15-cell custody suite at Bishopsgate Police Station, your role will be to manage the custody suite as part of our 24/7 Custody Cadre.

This will include ensuring that the custody suite is fit for purpose, fully stocked, and that all equipment and cells are in a good state of repair and fully serviced.

Your primary responsibility will be the care and welfare of staff, detainees and visitors to the custody suite.

In relation to an arrested person, you will be responsible for deciding whether you have sufficient grounds to authorise or refuse the detention of any person presented before you.

In compliance with PACE, you must ensure that all actions regarding the care and welfare of a detainee, including any legal process, are fully documented on the individual's custody record.

You will also have a responsibility to ensure that, while detainees are at the custody suite, police officers and police staff adhere to the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) Codes of Practice regarding the rights and treatment of persons arrested.

Key Accountabilities

• Implement all relevant legislation and apply policies and procedures to ensure high standards of security and safety are maintained within the Custody Suite.
• Assist in the accurate and prompt maintenance of manual and computerised custody records, including undertaking quality assurance as needed, to ensure the integrity of data held and compliance with the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE), the PACE Codes of Practice, and other applicable legislation and local/national guidance.
• Recognise and review all factors relating to the dignity and wellbeing of detainees to ensure these issues are given due consideration at all stages of detention, release or transfer.
• Oversee/manage the process of completing antecedent forms and obtaining fingerprints, photographs, DNA and other biometric samples.
• Oversee/manage the completion of mandatory drug testing procedures from detained persons, including all associated paperwork, while ensuring compliance with all relevant legislation and local/national guidance.
• Oversee/manage the process of searching each cell before and after use to detect and arrange the repair of any damage caused, reporting and following correct procedures to maintain a safe custody facility.
• Oversee/manage the process of physically searching detainees, retaining and recording personal possessions, and ensuring compliance with legislation and national and local policies and procedures.
• Undertake reviews of detention, monitor the progress of investigations, and report information to the PACE Inspector to ensure detainees are being detained in line with legislation, including accurately recording all appropriate Release Under Investigation (RUI), bail and disposal decisions on the custody record.
• Supervise visits by official representatives/agencies.
• Ensure that all cell visits for detainees in custody are completed to the level identified during the initial or subsequent risk assessment and carried out as per APP, completing spot checks to ensure compliance.
• Support representatives from other areas, such as legal advisors, healthcare, or liaison and diversion services, to ensure the movement and care of detainees comply with legislative, national and local procedures.
• Undertake ongoing risk assessments of all detainees entering the custody suite to mitigate threat, risk and harm to detainees and custody staff.
• Undertake a risk assessment prior to the release of all detainees to mitigate threat, risk and harm to detainees and members of the public.
• Identify and mitigate against any potential organisational risks relating to the custody suite to minimise the impact on both the Force and the custody suite.
• Monitor health and safety risks within the custody suite, acting as appropriate to mitigate potential health and safety risks.
• Supervise the custody suite team, managing wellbeing, welfare and development, and ensuring high levels of motivation to support the effective running of the custody suite.
• Supervise or lead the briefing of staff at shift changeovers and other appropriate times to ensure key information relating to the custody suite is communicated effectively and handovers are conducted appropriately.
• Supervise case files to ensure they meet the required evidential standards.
• Undertake Evidential Review Officer (ERO) duties to ensure case disposal is proportionate and the rationale for decision making is clearly recorded.
• Manage the Release Under Investigation (RUI) process to ensure investigations following release from custody are conducted within reasonable and justifiable timescales.
• Maintain oversight of the demographics of persons passing through custody to ensure any disproportionality is scrutinised.
• Review custody data and undertake quality assurance of records.
• Undertake Reporting Sergeant duties for Dedicated Detention Officers (DDOs).

Essential Criteria

Applicants must be able to demonstrate:

• Active commitment to the City of London Police's core values of Integrity, Professionalism and Compassion.
• The ability to set out logical arguments clearly, adapting language, form and message to meet the needs of different audiences.
• The ability to manage the introduction of new business processes or ways of working at team level.
• The ability to identify cause and effect and develop a course of action designed to target root causes and mitigate risks.
• The ability to develop and motivate a team and create strong engagement with individual and team objectives, Force values, behaviours and strategic priorities.
• The ability to review and assess individual and team performance against expected standards, providing objective and effective feedback and ensuring corrective action is taken where necessary.
• The ability to plan, allocate work appropriately within the team, and identify and mitigate risks to delivery.
• The highest standards of integrity, discretion and confidentiality.
• A good understanding of the Code of Ethics.

Desirable Criteria

• Good IT skills.
• Knowledge of the Force organisation and structure.
• Previous custody training/experience is beneficial (although training will be provided where required).

Knowledge Required for the Role

• An understanding of and commitment to the Force Diversity and Equal Opportunities Policy.
• A good understanding of Code C of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.

Reporting Line

The successful candidate will report directly to the Custody Manager, Criminal Justice Services.

Selection Process

The application and interview will be tested under Level 2 of the College of Policing Competency and Values Framework.

Applicants who fail to address the skills, knowledge and experience requirements of the role will not be considered.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, such as ChatGPT and Copilot, is permitted to review and edit application responses for spelling, grammar and clarity.

However, all responses must accurately reflect your own skills, knowledge and experience and must not be generated by AI or contain plagiarised content. Applications found to include plagiarism or AI-generated content will be withdrawn.

Further Information

If you would like to discuss the post in more detail, please contact: T/Inspector BRADY 0207 6012058 or email Deborah.brady@cityoflondon.police.uk

Closing Date

The closing date for applications is 6th November @11:59pm

Endorsement Required

Please note that your application will not be considered without a completed endorsement form. Please ensure you leave enough time for your verifiers and senior leaders to complete their support of your application before the closing date.

Please note officers who are not within three months of completing their tenure period will not be eligible to apply for internal roles. This applies only to officers who are not currently working within this Directorate.

Accessibility

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If you would like to receive information in a different way or would like us to do anything differently to help you apply for our roles, please get in touch with HR via: HRServices@city-of-london.pnn.police.uk