Serco Plc
Prisoner Escort & Custody Driver
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Prisoner Custody Officer (PCO) – Prisoner Escort Custody Services (PECS)
Location: Bristol Vehicle Base, BS11 8HT
Key Details
Join Prisoner Escort Custody Services (PECS) as a Prisoner Custody Officer (PCO)—playing a critical role in safeguarding the justice system while enjoying job stability and financial rewards.
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Initial Salary: £24,596 per year (35 hours per week)
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Graduated Base Salary: £28,109 (40 hours per week), rising to:
- £29,205 from 1 September 2026
- £29,932 (Year 2), £30,496 (Year 3), £31,063 (Year 4)
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Potential Earnings: With overtime (8 hours/week on average) and licence-based driving allowances, first-year income ranges between £34,805 and £36,605:
- B/B1 License: £600 per year
- C1 License: £2,400 per year (subject to terms)
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Shift Work: Operates 24/7 with unpredictable finishing times—flexibility is essential. Shifts are scheduled 12 weeks in advance.
The Role
As a PCO, you’ll work with a team in delivering safe, secure transportation and custody services. Duties include:
- Escorting detainees between prisons, police stations, and courts
- Ensuring welfare and dignity throughout transit
- Supporting detainee care, including searches, paperwork, and checks
- Responding to operational demands during extended hours (potential time beyond contracted hours)
Core Responsibilities:
- Attending briefings and assessing detainee/route/risk details
- Completing vehicle and equipment checks
- Safely collecting, transporting, and delivering detainees
- Welfare monitoring (including stopover checks)
- Completing end-of-shift reports and reporting duties
- Incident response and adaptable flexibility
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About the Work
You’ll make a real impact: keeping justice moving while protecting public safety. This role requires reliability, trustworthiness, compassion, and the ability to maintain professionalism under pressure.
What You’ll Need
To excel, you must have:
- Essential: A full UK driving licence (valid B1 or C1 licence, subject to requirements). C1 licence holders should ideally hold a valid CPC.
- Physical: Reasonable fitness for physical demands
- Professional Skills: Strong communication (written and verbal), conflict de-escalation, and attention to detail
- Personal Qualities: Professionalism, integrity, respect for confidentiality, and teamwork
- Security Clearance: Role may require Ministry of Justice Enhanced Level 2 DBS checks and random drug/alcohol testing
What We Offer
Work-Life Balance
- Holidays: 20 days (increasing to 25 days after 7 years) + bank holidays (pro-rated)
- Health & Wellbeing: Access to ** Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)**, Wellbeing Support, Simply Health cash/hospital plan, and discounted gym memberships at Serco facilities
- Mental Health Advocacy: Support from MIND
- Discounts: Retail, leisure (cinemas, Merlin attractions), food & beverage, mobile plans, and more
Career Development
- Job Security: Full 5½-week paid training
- Continuing Support: Mentorship, learning resources, internal courses/university qualifications (extended pay)
- Performance Focus: Opportunities for internal progression within justice services
- Development Networks: Access to SercoInspire, SercoEmbrace, SercoUnlimited, and In@Serco—supporting gender, multiculturalism, disability, and LGBT+ communities
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Flexibility & Diversity
- Hybrid Work Structures: Many business areas offer flexibility
- Disability Confident Leader: We ensure reasonable adjustments accommodate diverse candidates
- Criminal History Support: We embrace candidates with unspent convictions in line with the “Ban the Box” pledge (security clearance exemptions apply)
Recruitment Process
- Online Application: Includes eligibility questions and assessments
- Virtual Assessment:
- Competency-based interview (written exercise + roleplay)
- Specific Checks:
- Vetting documentation
- Right-to-work status
- Enhanced DBS checks
- Occupational health visits
- Random drug/alcohol tests
- Final Steps:
- Extended eligibility vetting
- Contract confirmation
Note: This role is not eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Applicants must meet right-to-work criteria and, if applicable, have a UK visa with two years’ remaining validity.
About Serco
Embrace the mission: our 50,000 global team delivers justice, healthcare, and safety solutions worldwide. At Serco, we care about fairness, inclusion and creating a better future. Join us in making ushed the security and integrity of critical public services for everyone.
Apply Today Act quickly—closing dates may move unexpectedly due to high-volume applications. Contact j&icareersUK@serco.com for tailored support.
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