By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
WANTED in Dandenong police cells: people with high emotional intelligence and ethics.
According to Dandenong police’s Inspector Bruce Kitchen, this is the desired skill set for custody officers – a new group of public servants who will replace police officers in supervising the cells’ prisoners.
The station is one of six pilot sites in Victoria to accept the first intake of officers in January.
Mr Kitchen said the officers will free up police members for foot patrols and other law enforcement duties.
Police officers, in recent times, have been regularly supervising up to 20 remand prisoners and people taken into custody on court days.
As part of their duties, rotating pairs of police officers would be required to supervise prisoners in the Dandenong Magistrates’ Court dock.
Mr Kitchen said the recruits would be supervised by experienced police members and trained on-the-job.
“But I suspect it won’t take them long to pick up how the system works.
“Initially they’ll be utilised for watch-house duties and custodial duties into the court.”
Their other duties include guarding offenders in hospital and transporting people from police stations.
As part of a six-week training course, the officers are trained to use OC spray and handcuffs, but are not armed with tasers or guns.
They have the power to search prisoners and to use reasonable force to maintain security, safety and good order.
Some of the prisoners are observably agitated in their cells, heard screaming and furiously banging on doors from the Dandenong Magistrates’ Court.
The court often hears that prisoners are afflicted with mental health issues and withdrawing from illicit drugs.
Mr Kitchen said Dandenong police will interview and make the final selection of the successful custody officers.
Extremely ethical people with good communication skills and emotional intelligence were sought for the roles, he said.
“You can see it as a stepping stone for being recruited into Victoria Police, because the job will give them relevant skills,” Mr Kitchen said.
Custody officers will be paid at the level of Victorian Public Service Grade 2 award, which starts at $46,143.
They are employed as public servants rather than police officers.
The State Government has announced it will recruit, train and deploy 400 custody officers in 22 stations in the next three years at a cost of $148.6 million.
