Prisoner Custody Officer in Woking

Working as a Prisoner Escort Custody Driver (PCO) in Prisoner Escort Custody Services (PECS) is more than just a role—it’s an opportunity to be part of a professional team that plays a vital role in the justice system, ensuring safety and security every day. In addition to a rewarding career, we offer competitive pay, benefits and flexibility to accommodate a 24/6 working pattern.

Benefits

• Salary of £26,745 (40hrs pw). Training salary £23,402 (35hrs pw).
• Annual salary increments: Year 2 £27,411, Year 3 £27,927, Year 4 £28,446.
• Additional driving allowance earnings for Category B1/C1 License holders: B1 £600 per year, C1 £2,400 per year (C1 holders must drive 6‑cell vehicles).
• Pension matched up to 6%, life insurance, 20 days annual leave rising to 25 after 7 years plus Bank Holidays.
• Discounts on Merlin Attractions, mobile phones, cinema, leisure, retail, and hospitality.
• Health and wellbeing support: Employee Assistance Programme, MIND, Simply Health Care and Dental Plans.
• Supportive team culture passionate about diversity and inclusion.

About The Role

As a PCO at our base you’ll work as part of a crew to provide safe and secure court transportation and custody services. You’ll collect adult male and female detainees between prisons, police stations and courts, always ensuring their well‑being. Depending on operational requirements you may remain at court to care for the detainee until they return to custody or are released. Duties include accompanying defendants in courtrooms and cells, searching property and people, ensuring food and drink are available and completing paperwork and data entry.

Key Responsibilities

• Start the day early, attend briefings to receive assignments and details on prisoners, pick‑up and drop‑off locations and specific risks.
• Check handheld devices for schedules and prisoner information.
• Complete vehicle checks.
• Collect prisoners from various locations, verify paperwork and property, search prisoners and load them onto the vehicle.
• Monitor prisoners’ welfare during transport, conduct cell checks and provide water if needed.
• Arrange comfort stops for long journeys.
• Transport prisoners to courts and handle inter‑prison transfers for reasons such as bed space management or educational needs.
• Return to the vehicle base, perform end‑of‑use checks, report defects and hand in documentation.
• Work beyond contracted hours due to job demands, sometimes exceeding 50 hours a week.
• Stay with prisoners admitted to hospitals and handle emergency transfers during incidents like prison riots.

Required Skills

• Understand and respond to the emotional needs of detainees.
• Handle stressful and emotionally demanding situations with calm and composure.
• Think on your feet and make quick, effective decisions in challenging situations.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues to ensure the safety and well‑being of detainees.
• Follow protocols, conduct searches and complete paperwork accurately.
• Maintain adequate physical fitness to perform duties that may involve restraining detainees and long hours.
• De‑escalate conflicts and manage challenging behaviour effectively.
• High ethical standards and a commitment to confidentiality and professionalism.
• Sensitivity to the diverse backgrounds and needs of detainees, ensuring respectful and fair treatment.

Assessment Process

Briefing call to assess eligibility > Competency based Virtual Interview > Short role‑play and written exercise.

Additional Information

All roles are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, and all offers of employment are subject to Ministry of Justice Enhanced Level 2 checks with Enhanced DBS (Adult & Child Barring) and satisfactory employment references.

Visa and Eligibility

This role is not eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship under current UK Home Office rules, as it does not meet the required salary or skill level criteria. Candidates who already have a valid right to work in the UK through other immigration routes or permissions must meet the below minimum eligibility criteria:

• Have at least two years remaining on your current visa.
• Have lived in the UK for at least one year, as vetting process requires a counter‑signatory from a recognised professional who has known you for that duration.

About Serco

At Serco, not only is the nature of the work we do important, everyone has an important role to play, from caring for vulnerable people to managing complex public services. We are a team of 50,000 people responsible for delivering essential public services around the world in areas including defence, transport, justice, immigration, healthcare and citizen services. We are innovators, committed to redesigning and improving public services for the benefit of everyone.

By joining Serco you will have unlimited access to our Global Employee Networks – SercoInspire (Gender), SercoEmbrace (Multicultural), SercoUnlimited (Disability) and In@Serco (LGBT & Networks). Serco Employee Networks, led by colleagues who are passionate about diversity, inclusion and belonging.

Apply

Please click on the apply button to complete your application. Occasionally we receive a large volume of applications for our roles and when that happens we sometimes bring the closing date forward, so please apply promptly to avoid disappointment.

EEO Statement

At Serco we see people first and foremost for their performance and potential. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that supports the needs of all. As such we will make reasonable adjustments at interview through to employment for our candidates and strongly encourage applications from a diverse candidate pool. We are open to discussions around flexibility and flexible working. We operate a hybrid work structure in many of our business areas. We are proudly Disability Confident Leader employers and holder of the Silver Inclusive Employer Standard. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job will be given the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities at an interview.

For help with your application please contact j&icareersuk@serco.com

At Serco we support fair access to employment for those with unspent criminal convictions through the ‘Ban the Box’ pledge (some may be exempt due to the nature of the role and the security clearance required). Please contact our recruitment team directly on j&icareersuk@serco.com to discuss.