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Job Descrption

Post Title: Custody Sergeant

Type of contract: Full time

Rank/Grade: Sergeant

Directorate/Department: Specialist Operations / Criminal Justice / Custody

Statement of expectation for the role: 2 year minimum commitment

Vetting level required: MV/SC

Location: Bishopsgate

Salary: National Police Scales plus allowances

Description Of Department

Applications are invited from substantive Sergeants to undertake the role of Custody Officer, within our Custody Cadre in the Specialist Operations of Criminal Justice Services.

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

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.

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

Role Purpose

Working within our 15-cell custody suite in 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, ensuring that it is fully stocked and all the equipment and cells are of are in a good state of repair and fully serviced. Your primary responsibility will be for the care and welfare of staff, detainees and visitors to the custody suite. In relation to an arrested persons you will be responsible in deciding whether you have sufficient grounds to authorise or refuse the detention of any persons 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 individuals 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) and 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 their detention and release or transfer.
• Oversee/manage the process of completing antecedent forms, obtain fingerprints, photographs, DNA and other biometric samples.
• Oversee/ manage the completing of mandatory drug testing procedures from detained persons including all associated paperwork, whilst 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 physical searching of detainees, retaining and recording personal possessions and ensuring compliance with legislation and national and local policies and procedures.
• Undertake reviews of detention, chasing progress of investigation, reporting information to PACE Inspector to ensure that detainees are being detained in line with legislation, including accurately recording on the custody record all appropriate Release Under Investigation (RUI), bail and disposal decisions.
• Supervise visits by official representatives/agencies.
• Ensure that all cell visits for detainees in custody are completed to level identified during the initial or subsequent risk assessment and carried out as per APP and complete spot checks to ensure compliance.
• Support representatives from other areas such as legal advisors, healthcare or liaison and diversion to ensure the movement and care of detainees are met and comply with legislative and national and local procedures.
• Undertake, on an ongoing basis, 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 the both the force and custody suite.
• Monitor health and safety risks within the custody suite, acting as appropriate to mitigate against potential health and safety risks in the custody suite.
• Supervise the custody suite team, managing their wellbeing and welfare, development and ensuring high levels of motivation to ensure the effective running of a custody suite.
• Supervise or lead the briefing of staff at shift change overs and other appropriate times to ensure that key information relating to the custody suite is relayed and that handovers are carried out in a suitable fashion.
• Supervise case files to ensure that they meet the required evidential standards
• Undertake Evidential Review Officer (ERO) duties to ensure that case disposal is proportionate and the rationale for decision making is clearly recorded.
• To manage the Released under Investigation (RUI) process to ensure that investigations following release of a person from custody are conducted within reasonable and justifiable time scales.
• Maintain oversight of the demographics of persons passing through custody to ensure that any disproportionality is scrutinised.
• The review of custody data and quality assurance of any records.
• Reporting Sergeant duties for Dedicated Detention Officers (DDO’s)

Essential Criteria – including the behaviours that will be tested at application/interview:
• Actively demonstrates the City of London Police’s core values of Integrity, Professionalism and Compassion.
• Able to set out logical arguments clearly, adapting language, form, and message to meet the needs of different people / audiences.
• Able to manage the introduction of new business processes or ways of working at team level.
• Able to identify cause and effect and develop a course of action designed to target root causes and mitigate risks.
• Able to develop and motivate a team and create strong engagement of individuals with their personal and team objectives and with Force values, behaviours, and strategic priorities.
• Able to review and assess individual and team performance against expected standards, providing objective and effective feedback and ensuring corrective actions are taken where necessary.
• Able to plan; to allocate work appropriately within the team and to identify and mitigate risks to delivery
• Applicants must demonstrate the highest standards of integrity, discretion and confidentiality and have a good understanding of the Code of Ethics.

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

Knowledge for Role
• An understanding of and commitment to the Force Diversity and Equal Opportunities Policy.
• Good understanding of Code C of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984

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

Application 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/experience of the job description will not be considered.

Closing date for applications is Sunday 10th November at 11.59pm.

For any queries, please contact Insp Jim Green via HRServices@cityoflondon.police.uk

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

Please note Officers who are not within 3 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.

Benefits

In return, we will offer a number of benefits including a generous pension scheme, a free Oyster card for London (TFL) travel and subsidised national rail travel, which allows you to travel within a 70 mile radius. For further information please visit:

https://careers.cityoflondon.police.uk/working

The ATOC Rail Travel Concession allows regular serving police officers to travel on National Rail services within a 70 mile radius of London for a small monthly cost. This is a taxable benefit that the City of London Police negotiates and Officers make a contribution to the cost of the scheme. If you wish to confirm if your journey would be covered under this scheme, please contact HR Services directly as the 70 miles is an approximation.

A diverse workforce improves the service we provide to our public by making us more approachable and relevant within our communities. This is why it’s vitally important that we recruit people from a wide range of communities and backgrounds with an understanding of cultural issues and a wide range of skills. We therefore particularly encourage female and people from Black, Asian and other Minority Ethnic communities to join us.

The way we work is changing. With a few exceptions most roles will be able to accommodate part time, job share and flexible working patterns. We can also offer hybrid working patterns of home and office based shift patterns. Feel free to speak to us about any flexible working requirements.

The Force Has a Number Of Staff Support Networks That Can Offer You Support And Advice. Applicants Are Very Welcome To Contact The Networks Directly If They Need Any Support Or Ask Any Question Before They Apply. For Further Information On The Networks And Their Contact Details Please Visit

https://www.cityoflondon.police.uk/police-forces/city-of-london-police/areas/city-of-london/about-us/about-us/equality-and-diversity2/equality-and-diversity-support-networks/

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.

We strive to ensure all our information and services are accessible to and useable by everyone. If you would like to receive any 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@cityoflondon.police.uk

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