Custody Detention Officer
Role Overview
Gwent Police are looking for individuals to work in our dynamic custody units provide care and welfare to persons detained in police custody.
Enthusiastic, caring, hard working and reliable with excellent communication skills and enjoy working as a team - Is this you?
The role requires working as a team with the main responsibilities to include assessing and providing for detainee's safety and welfare needs. You will carry out searches of detained persons and obtain forensic samples such as fingerprints, photographs and drug testing. You will assist investigating officers by arranging and facilitating access to legal advice, health care professionals and partner agencies.
Applicants should hold a full current driving licence or be able to travel around the force area using alternative transport when required.
If successful at Interview you will be required to attend a fitness test (Level 5.4 Bleep test) drugs test, biometric test (DNA swab and fingerprints) and medical appointment, as well as undergoing vetting and references.
Know what your fitness test involves
The test involves running back and forth along a 15 metre track, arriving at each end line in time with a series of audio bleeps. At the end of each level the time interval between each bleep will decrease meaning you need to run faster to keep in time. At the start, you will be taken through a warm up which involves running to the start of Level 3. This gives opportunity to understand the bleep system as well as warming you up. The test then starts back at Level 1. 5.4 is the minimum standard required which means that you are required to keep running in time with the bleeps until you have completed 4 shuttles at level 5.
LEVEL 4 welsh and above is desirable.
Please note: Dates of the following stages:
We are holding an Awareness Session at Ystrad Mynach Police Station to allow candidates to speak to a current Custody Detention Officer and visit the suite. If you are interested in attending please email centralrecruitment@gwent.police.uk to book your place.
This will be 4th September @ 6:15pm
Interviews - 29 / 30 October 2025
Fitness Test/ Drugs Test - Provisionally 7 October 2025
Medicals - 24/27 October 2025
HOW TO APPLY
If you think you have the skills and passion for this role, please click the link below to view the role profile. If you think this is the role for you, please complete an application, evidencing against the required attainments (usually found on the last page of the role profile, the word count for each area can also be found on this document).
Please note the titles of the areas you are required to evidence (as per the person specification) are pre-populated on the application form. Please refer to the person specification to find further information of the evidence required under each heading.
Please also refer to the candidate guidance attached below which provides more detail on how to complete your application.
INTERNAL CANDIDATES: Please note that we are unable to progress you to shortlisting unless we have received your Line Manager Approval form. Please submit this in line with the closing date. Thank you.
What are our benefits:
Here at Gwent Police, we value our employees, and we provide ample support and training to ensure you excel in your role, alongside receiving benefits such as:
- Generous annual leave entitlement that rises to either 29 or 30 days depending on grade plus 8 bank holidays
- Employee Assistance programme and a range of wellbeing support programmes
- Free access to on-site gyms
- Discounts from various retailers via the Blue Light Scheme and Vectis Card
- Cycle to Work Scheme
- Hybrid/Agile working (role dependant)
- Flexible working opportunities
- Local government pension scheme
- Range of support networks
- Generous maternity/paternity and adoption leave entitlements
- Generous sick pay provisions
- Option to become a member of UNISON, the public service union
- An option to join a contributory health plan, with a waived waiting time, which gives access to diagnostics and treatments.
Diversity and Welsh language
To enable us to deliver outstanding policing for everyone, we need people from all backgrounds, with a range of professional and life experiences, so that we are truly representative of our communities.
Gwent Police provide a positive action support programme for underrepresented groups. To find out more please email Brian & Clare via positive.action@gwent.police.uk or visit our positive action page here: Positive Action | Gwent Police.
We are proud to be a Welsh speaking policing service and welcome applications from candidates with Welsh Language skills.
Disability Confident Employer
We are recognised as a disability confident employer, we aim to recruit and retain disabled people, and people with health conditions, for their skills and talent. You can indicate on your application form whether you require any support or adjustments to enable you to do the job, or to assist you with your application.