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MORE than a year after it was introduced, Victoria Police will expand its police custody officer program in 15 stations across the state – including Bendigo.
A new role of police custody supervisor will be established, taking further pressure off uniform police to handle and co-ordinate people in the cells.
The supervisor will take on most of the roles of the custody sergeant and prisoner management sergeant, allowing them to return to other police duties.
And they could be drawn from the local community, to work alongside Bendigo’s 21 custody officers – drawn from a range of backgrounds, including a former veterinary nurse, gym owner and arborist.
Custody officer Conrad Foskett, who previously worked as a Qantas flight attendant, said the role had become a valuable part of the operations of the Bendigo police station.
“It’s all about being able to deal with people, just like my former job,” he said.
“It was time to move on and try something else, and this has been perfect for me.”
It’s not just about walking prisoners from the cells to the van, then the van to the courtroom.
Custody officers are involved in organising meals, managing equipment, maintaining the cells and checking prisoner paperwork.
Erin Williams was able to use her conflict management skills from five years as a Centrelink call centre worker in her new role as a police custody officer.
She said it was a fulfilling position.
“I was getting sick of sitting behind the desk and wanted something a bit more exciting,” Ms Williams said.
“It doesn’t really feel like a job at all.”
The police custody program was introduced to free up police to spend more time on the beat.
Sergeant Mark Holloway said there was always interest in the roles from within the Bendigo community.
“Dealing face-to-face with prisoners is probably less than half of their role, there’s a lot involved in it,” he said.
“Some prisoners can be confronting, but there are systems in place to ensure everyone’s safety.”
Police will hold another information evening at the All Seasons at 6pm on May 1.