Custody officer
Encyclopedia
A Custody Officer is an attested
constable
of at least the rank of Sergeant in the United Kingdom
who works in a custody suite
. They are responsible for the care and welfare of arrested
persons who are brought to the custody suite.
are legitimate. This also applies to other public servants with power of arrest who may use the suite from time to time, for example Revenue & Customs officers
and Immigration officers. The officer presents the arrested person to the custody officer and explains the circumstances of the arrest, with further detention of the person being authorised if the custody officer approves of the arrest.
The custody officer must ensure that during the whole time the person is detained at the custody suite, police officers and civilian staff who deal with the detained person adhere to the PACE
Codes of Practice regarding the rights
and treatment of persons arrested.
These Codes of Practice include various requirements regarding time limits and record keeping for certain procedures that mat take place whilst the person is in custody and the custody officer is responsible for ensuring these too.
Attestation
Attestation may refer to:* Attestation clause, verification of a document* Various police oaths in the United Kingdom...
constable
Constable
A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions.-Etymology:...
of at least the rank of Sergeant in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
who works in a custody suite
Custody suite
A custody suite is a designated area within a police station designed and adapted to process and detain those who have been arrested, or who are there for purposes such as answering bail....
. They are responsible for the care and welfare of arrested
Arrest
An arrest is the act of depriving a person of his or her liberty usually in relation to the purported investigation and prevention of crime and presenting into the criminal justice system or harm to oneself or others...
persons who are brought to the custody suite.
Responsibilities
The custody officer must ensure that all arrests made by police officersPolice officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
are legitimate. This also applies to other public servants with power of arrest who may use the suite from time to time, for example Revenue & Customs officers
Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs
Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs is a non-ministerial department of the UK Government responsible for the collection of taxes and the payment of some forms of state support....
and Immigration officers. The officer presents the arrested person to the custody officer and explains the circumstances of the arrest, with further detention of the person being authorised if the custody officer approves of the arrest.
The custody officer must ensure that during the whole time the person is detained at the custody suite, police officers and civilian staff who deal with the detained person adhere to the PACE
Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984
The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 is an Act of Parliament which instituted a legislative framework for the powers of police officers in England and Wales to combat crime, as well as providing codes of practice for the exercise of those powers. Part VI of PACE required the Home Secretary...
Codes of Practice regarding the rights
Rights
Rights are legal, social, or ethical principles of freedom or entitlement; that is, rights are the fundamental normative rules about what is allowed of people or owed to people, according to some legal system, social convention, or ethical theory...
and treatment of persons arrested.
These Codes of Practice include various requirements regarding time limits and record keeping for certain procedures that mat take place whilst the person is in custody and the custody officer is responsible for ensuring these too.