Detention/Escort Officer

We have an exciting opportunity to join our Criminal Justice Services department as a Detention Escort Officer, working at one of our 7 custody suites within the West Midlands Police Force area.

You will be responsible for delivering a safe and secure environment for those detained in connection with a wide variety of criminal matters. The custody environment is fast paced and can be unpleasant at times, so you must enjoy working at pace whilst being faced with challenging situations.

Working with the Custody Sergeant, your role will be to ensure the dignity and welfare of detainees from the moment they arrive until they are released. Duties range from administration of custody IT systems, taking DNA samples through to managing the welfare of the detainee whilst in their cell.

Dealing with people brings a need for excellent communication skills, as well as requiring the ability to remain calm when presented with volatile situations.

Key responsibilities:

• Use of custody IT systems and equipment to complete tasks including updating PNC records, booking in detainees, taking fingerprints/DNA and photographs
• Check well being, administer first aid where required as well as issuing medication and food, whilst patrolling and monitoring security of the custody suite
• Assist a police officer to control and restrain a detained person or to prevent them from escaping from lawful custody or injuring themselves or another
• Handle, store and move property and forensic samples

Essential Criteria:

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to remain calm and professional when faced with volatile situations
• Be able to write in a clear, concise and accurate manner
• Be helpful and compassionate
• Strong decision making skills
• Confidence dealing with confrontation

Desirable Criteria:

• Experience working within a custody environment

Part-time and full-time roles are available. Full-time DEOs are required to work weekends and bank holidays, for which appropriate allowances are paid. You will work a shift pattern of 6-on, 4-off, comprising 2 early, 2 late, and 2 night shifts. Part-time DEOs will work a pattern of 4-on, 6-off, including 2 early and 2 late shifts. Shift allowance will be provide in addition to the basic salary.

If successful in this position, you will be required to attend at training course, details of this course will be sent to you once successful. The course length is between 3-4 weeks which will be Monday - Friday business working hours. This course will incorporate aspects of legislation, policy, first aid, personal safety and ICT systems.

About Us

West Midlands Police is England’s second-largest police force. Together, we serve the 2.9 million people who call the region home, one of the youngest and most diverse populations in Europe.

Our vision is to be recognised as a police service that is big enough to cope with everything asked of us, while remaining small enough to care about the things that really matter to people.

Together, we will fulfil our mission of working in partnership to make communities safer.

Working for West Midlands Police includes a range of employee benefits; click here to learn more about the benefits available.

Guaranteed Interview Schemes:

As a Disability Confident Leader, we operate a Disability Confident Interview Scheme. All candidates who share with us that they are disabled and meet the essential criteria for the role will be offered an interview*.
As a proud signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant and Care Leaver Covenant, West Midlands Police also operates a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for Military Service Leavers and Care Leavers who meet the minimum role requirements.

There may be times when we cannot interview all disabled people who meet the essential criteria for the job (for example, during seasonal or high-peak periods). In these situations, we may limit the number of interviews offered to both disabled and non-disabled people. In these circumstances, we will select the candidates who best meet the essential criteria for the role.

Contact – For more information please contact careers@westmidlands.police.uk

Vetting – Successful applicants will be required to pass Recruitment Vetting and Counter Terrorism Clearance scrutiny prior to commencing their role, this will include a full background & financial disclosure as part of the vetting process.

Medical - Appointment to this role will be dependent upon successfully medical checks, which will include a drugs test.