Detention Officer, Permanent Opportunity working within the Custody Suites
Cheshire Police are currently seeking to recruit Detention Officers to ensure the current demand and requirements are met across our range of custody suites. Due to the nature of the role and the statutory requirements when handling detainees, and our current staffing the Constabulary are specifically seeking to appoint male applicants only for this role at this time, as there is a genuine occupational requirement for additional male Detention Officers.
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a permanent male Detention Officer to work in the Custody Suites. The successful candidate will work within the Custody team providing support and assistance to the Custody officer in the detention and welfare of detained persons and their property, and the administration of the Custody Service.
The Detention Officer will be involved in managing the day to day of wellbeing and management of detainees, take photographs, fingerprints and perform non-intimate searches with or without consent and ensure appropriate bagging of exhibits. The Detention Officer will search cells and rooms within the cell area, check visitors and their baggage to ensure no breaches of security.
The main responsibilities will be…..
- Provide assistance to a police officer or independently to restrain, using reasonable force, detained persons who become violent and place those persons in a contained environment, ensuring that any damage to the property or equipment is reported to the custody officer.
- Administration support.
- Control the movement of detainees within the cell area in relation to exercise periods, toilet facilities and to supervise visits by official representatives and relatives ensuring that security considerations are complied with.
- Ensure that all prisoner’s health and welfare needs are attended to and met.
- When necessary deal with all enquiries in relation to detained persons.
For more detail information, please review the Role Profile attached
Do you have the right skills and experience?
- Basic literacy and numeracy skills.
- Minimum of 3 years’ experience of working within a people orientated environment.
- Typically some experience of supervising people in an institutionalised environment will be an indication of a candidate’s range of acquired skills.
- Specific training will be provided.
- Must be able to pass a relevant PNC course.
- Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
- Computer literate ability.
- Must be able to work a 24 hour shift pattern of work.
To be considered for the role candidates will need to evidence their experience by completing the criteria questions within the online application.
Cheshire Police seek to recruit Male Detention Officers to ensure the current demand and requirements are met of male detainees. Of the arrests that are made in Cheshire on average over 80% are male detainees. At present there are more female Detention Officers than male. Part of the Detention Officer duties involve searching / supervision of detainees and in some cases this involves assisting Police Officers conduct strip searches so the Detention Officers must be of the same gender.
This recruitment is seeking to balance the male/female ratio of Detention Officers to meet the requirements made from the ratio of male/females detainees. As a result positive action under section 159 of the Equality Act will be applied at interview as part of this process.
Please note, should we receive a high volume of applications for this role, we will be required to close this advert prior to the scheduled closing date. Therefore, we would recommend submitting your application at your earliest convenience.
Please note the following Custody locations within Cheshire - Middlewich, Blacon, Runcorn
Take a look at our Custody Video for more information: https://www.youtube.com/embed/bXrV2NJ2EbI


