Custody officers free up Dandenong police

Custody officers are freeing up police to protect the community at Dandenong Police Station.
Victoria Police announced on Tuesday 6 February that it had recruited, trained and deployed all 400 Police Custody Officers (PCOs) to 22 of the state’s busiest police stations.
Dandenong MP Gabrielle Williams said all PCOs were in position at Dandenong Police Station and since January 2016 had delivered 6847 shifts.
“We’re seeing a huge reduction in the number of police officers carrying out custody shifts and more opportunity for police to get out into our community,” she said.
Deputy Commissioner Wendy Steendam said custody officers’ duties included searching people coming into the cells, looking after their welfare, and supervising them at court appearances.
“We have seen great improvements in the quality, professionalism and consistency of custody management,” she said.
“Bringing on board PCOs has also released sworn police from custody duties at some of our busiest police stations, freeing them up to return to the frontline, tackling crime and protecting the community.
“PCOs have reduced police shifts dedicated to custody by just over 90 per cent – the equivalent of more than 90,000 shifts or hundreds-of-thousands of hours of police work.”