British Transport Police
Designated Detention Officer - 20hrs per week (Fridays and Saturdays)
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Salary: £29,483.96 FTE per annum (pro-rated to £14,741.98 per annum), £2,000 Market Supplement (pro-rated to £1,000 per annum), plus £4,775.00 London Allowance (pro-rated to £2,378.50 per annum) and 20% Shift Allowance.
Contract Type: Permanent
Location: Brewery Road, London
Type of Working Arrangement: Blended approach of home and office-working is available
Hours: Part time - 20 hours per week, (Friday and Saturday’s)
British Transport Police (BTP) is the police force for the rail network throughout Great Britain. We are the ‘Guardians of the Railway,’ putting passenger safety at the heart of what we do. Our values are simply: We Care, We Do the Right Thing, We Strive to Be Better Every Day, We Are One BTP, and We Are Proud to Protect. Join us and help create an environment where we can all be our best every day.
The Opportunity
Are you looking for your next exciting career move? British Transport Police have an excellent opportunity for a Designated Detention Officer to join our Custody Team. Join our dynamic custody team where no two days are the same. You'll play a vital role in ensuring the safety, wellbeing, and dignity of detainees from the moment they arrive. From conducting risk assessments and managing custody records to supervising daily routines and supporting medical needs, you'll be at the heart of a fast-paced, people-focused environment.
You'll carry out searches, take biometric samples, and maintain clean, secure cells. Whether you're arranging meals, assisting with phone calls and visits, or presenting evidence in court, your professionalism and calm approach will make a real difference. With every interaction, you'll promote respect, equality, and human rights—ensuring everyone is treated with dignity.
What you'll be doing
- Managing the arrival of detainees, conduct risk assessments and open custody records, recording personal details and the reason/ circumstance of the arrest.
- Conducting prisoner searches, take prisoners fingerprints, photographs and DNA samples using reasonable force when necessary and appropriate.
- Conducting cell visits to ensure the safety of detainees, the ensure cells are clean and in good working order.
- Supervising detainee’s ablutions, exercise, telephone calls, visits and doctor examinations.
- Arranging and deliver appropriate meals and drink to the detainee’s taking into account dietary requirements.
- Providing first aid treatment when required.
- Presenting evidence in court and other hearings as required.
- Answering telephone calls and deal with enquiries.
- Promoting equality, diversity and human rights in working practices by developing positive working relationships, ensuring colleagues and detainees are treated with courtesy, respect and dignity.
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What you'll bring to the team
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- The ability to accurately input information onto a computer database and the ability to carry out basic office administration using word processing and email software packages.
- The ability to remain calm and professional in confrontational situations.
- The ability to use an appropriate level of force to control detainees in accordance with training and guidelines.
- A demonstrable understanding of and commitment to delivering high levels of customer service.
- Knowledge of relevant legislation.
- Previous experience of working in a custody environment is desirable and/or demonstrable experience in similar secure settings.
What we offer
- 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing to 30 days after 5 years.(Pro-rated for part time)
- Family-friendly policies, including up to 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave.
- Bespoke benefits platform and Blue Light Card access.
- Salary sacrifice options for cycles, home technology, gym membership, and electric vehicles.
- Interest-free annual rail season ticket loan after 6 months.
- Access to the Transport Benevolent Fund for health, welfare, and financial support.
- Development opportunities, including fully funded apprenticeships.
- Excellent Pension scheme: We offer the BTP GPP Police Staff Pension Scheme, administered by Royal London. This group personal pension plan is available to all police staff and is a defined contribution scheme. It provides the flexibility to vary your pension contributions from 4.4% to 12% of your salary. For more information, visit the Royal London dedicated pension page or email us at Pension-Queries@btp.police.uk. Note: If you are an existing member of Police Staff in the RPS, your pension will not be affected.
Additional Information
- Further information about this vacancy can be found in the attached job description.
- Vetting: Successful applicants will be required to pass Recruitment Vetting (3 years minimum UK residency required), including a full background and financial disclosure. For more information and Top Tips, please see attached document.
- Medical: We’ll ask for relevant health and medical history details to support employee wellbeing.
- References: We'll ask for references to cover the past 5 years.
- Notice Period - This role is subject to a 3 month notice period.
Get help with your application
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Applications will be via an up-to-date CV and online application form, as part of this application please outline how your skills and experience demonstrate your suitability for the role. AI can be a useful tool to spark ideas or help you organise your thoughts, but when it comes to your application, we want to hear from you, not an algorithm. What truly stands out to us are genuine stories, personal insights and the experiences that have shaped who you are. Authenticity matters - it helps us understand your motivations, your strengths and how you’ll contribute to our team. So, use AI if it helps you get started, but let your own voice lead the way.
Completed applications must be submitted by 11.59pm, Tuesday 29th September 2026.
Inclusion & Diversity
We are committed to building a workforce where everyone feels they belong.
We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities and lived experiences. Diversity strengthens our teams, improves our services and helps us better represent and support the communities we serve.
We are proud to be an inclusive employer and strive to create a workplace that is fair, respectful and accessible to all. We actively work to challenge discrimination, remove barriers and ensure equity throughout our recruitment and employment practices.
If you need any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment or selection process, please let us know - we are happy to support you. Your talent, your potential, and your unique perspective matter here.
For more information on Inclusion or the Disability Confident Scheme, please click the links Inclusion & Diversity Disability Confident Scheme
Join Us
Ready to take the next step in your career? At BTP, you’ll have the opportunity to grow, make a real impact, and be part of something extraordinary.
Find out why BTP could be the perfect fit for you - About Us - British Transport Police
Curious about what life at BTP is really like? Hear directly from our people and discover what makes working here so rewarding. Explore real stories on our blog: Our Stories - British Transport Police
For further information, please contact our Resourcing Team - RecruitmentTeam@btp.police.uk.
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