Designated Detention Officers (DDO)

Job Title:Designated Detention Officer (DDO)

Salary: Circa £42,871. Your salary package will comprise of a starting base salary of £33,219, 20% shift allowance, a location allowance of £2,009 and a non-pensionable allowance of £1,000. (Please note: During training, shift allowance will be 12.5%)

Location: Across London

“The custody suite is at the heart of a police station and is a place where no two days are the same. The role of a Designated Detention Officer requires patience, empathy, professionalism and a desire to support the most vulnerable.”

What is a Designated Detention Officer (DDO)?

Designated Detention Officers are essential in the safe and effective running of Custody Suites. They form part of a team of officers and staff who are the first point of contact for all detainees brought to a police station after arrest.

Designated Detention Officers are required to remain impartial to all investigations and be able to put detainees and their welfare first, identify threat, manage risk and support those with vulnerabilities, all whilst working within a legal framework governing all actions taken within the custody suite.

The primary role of a DDO is completing welfare tasks relating to detainees in police custody such as completing regular checks on detainees in their cells, providing meals and facilitating showers, phone calls, exercise and other tasks of a similar nature. There is an administrative side to the role that requires the use of computer systems to support the practical work carried out in the custody suite.

Additionally, DDO’s are given designated powers to carry out certain tasks whilst on duty such as use of force, taking fingerprints, searching detainees, taking photographs, Biometric samples and footwear impressions. All necessary training will be provided to ensure DDO’s are fully equipped to perform these tasks effectively and safely.

Custody suites currently operate a shift pattern comprising of 12-hour shifts across four teams that hand over to each other every 12 hours. DDO’s will work closely with their teams, reporting to a Custody Officer (Sergeant). Team members support one another to ensure the safety of everybody within the custody suite whilst remaining professional in some very intense and testing situations.

In return for your professionalism and personal skill, you'll be rewarded with an immensely satisfying job and team camaraderie that cannot be beaten.

What are we looking for?

We do not tolerate verbal or physical abuse to our staff but we must highlight that it does happen at times due to the nature of the role. This is why we consider resilience and professionalism so important – DDOs must be able to remain professional in intense situations where others may not be able to.

You don’t need to have done this type of role before, life skills will go a long way and you will always be supported by your team of fellow DDO’s and police officers. In tough times you'll really appreciate the camaraderie that makes working in this environment so unique.

As a DDO you will represent the Metropolitan Police Service within its custody suites, and will be required adhere to the Code of Ethics and MPS Values in the constant presence of 24/7 CCTV.

Respect for others regardless of any factor or reason for arrest is absolutely essential.

Training

Successful candidates will undertake an intensive seven-week foundation course where they will receive training on all aspects of their role including Officer Safety Training, Emergency Life Support and First Aid. You’ll be taught all the relevant legislation, what your designated powers are and when you can use them including the use of handcuffs. Once on your training course you must pass all elements of training before joining your team and entering the custody suite.

Location

During the recruitment process, you’ll be asked for 3 location preferences. We always take these preferences into consideration; however we cannot guarantee that we’ll be able to accommodate these since postings may be made based on operational business requirements. Please think carefully about the locations you request as not all sites have parking. Transfer requests to other suites will not be accepted during your training or mentoring unless there are exceptional circumstances, so please make sure you there are no issues getting to your posting for 7am or 7pm weekdays and weekends.

You must be prepared to travel to other sites on occasions as there may be a requirement for you to work from other locations, depended on operational requirements.

Shift Patterns

We operate 24/7, 365 days of the year working to a 12-hour shift pattern, starting at 7am or 7pm. We’ll talk to you about shift patterns and answer any questions as you progress through the recruitment process.

Flexible working can be requested once the training and mentoring period has been completed.

Essential For The Role

Essential Criteria

• Excellent communication skills
• ICT literacy with experience in using Microsoft Word and Excel.
• A willingness to learn further role specific ICT skills and an openness to change
• Good written English
• A level headedness towards problem solving
• Resilience and an ability to wok under intense pressure
• A passion to work well as part of a team

Desirable Criteria

• A second language
• A working knowledge of Code C of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984
• An understanding of The College of Policing role in police practices

The following competencies will be tested against during sift

• We collaborate at level 1

The following values will be tested against during sift

• Integrity

Disability Confident Statement

The Met is committed to being an equitable (fair and impartial) and inclusive employer for disabled people, striving to have a diverse and representative workforce at all levels. We encourage applications from people from the widest possible range of backgrounds, cultures and experiences. We particularly welcome applications from people with disabilities and long-term conditions, ethnic minority groups and women.

As a Disability Confident Leader, the Met has committed to making disability equality part of our everyday practice. We ensure that people with disabilities and those with long term conditions have the opportunities to fulfil their potential and realise their aspirations.

The Met is committed to making reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process to ensure disabled applicants can perform at their best. If you need any reasonable adjustments or changes to the application and recruitment process, we ask that you include this information within your application form. All matters will be treated in strict confidence.

Please note, if you are applying for a police officer role or to become a police community support officer (PCSO) or designated detention officer (DDO), there is a minimum requirement that you must pass a job-related fitness test (JRFT) at point of entry. This does not apply to police staff roles. Find out more about police fitness standards.

Read our full disability confidence statement.

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