Twenty newly recruited custody officers will be stationed at each of Mill Park and Broadmeadows police stations over the next few years, freeing-up sworn police officers to return to the beat.
Four hundred custody-officers-in-training are expected to be deployed to 22 of the busiest police stations across the state over the next three years.
Their deployment would follow the passage of a bill introduced to State Parliament last Tuesday which would grant increased powers to custody officers to manage prisoners in police cells, supervise offenders in police stations, guard offenders in hospital and transport people to and from court.
Police Minister Wade Noonan said the Justice Legislation Bill 2015 would give Victoria’s new custody officers the powers they need to manage police cells so that sworn officers can get back into the community to tackle crime.
JOB VACANCIES: POLICE CUSTODY OFFICER
Whittlesea’s Inspector Paul Tysoe said the new custody officers would facilitate the movement of members from custody duty to the front line.
“It’s a good thing for the local area and allows for quicker processing of offenders.”
Before taking over as Whittlesea inspector in May, Inspector Tysoe was station commander at Heidelberg police station for seven years. “I think many commanders have been asking for police to be removed from the supervising of prisoners for some time and I supported that.”
Acting Senior Sergeant Cameron Keily said the interviewing process for custody officers at Broadmeadows police station would begin in the next few weeks.
He supported the state government’s initiative, saying it would give the station commander leeway to get more officers patrolling the streets.
Custody officers would not take up duties at Mill Park until next year, when construction on the station’s holding cells is complete.
The officers would be employed as public servants, not as police officers, and would not use Tasers or guns.
