Serco Plc
Prisoner Escort & Custody Driver
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Prisoner Custody Officer (PCO) – Prisoner Escort Custody Services (PECS)
Location: Eastleigh Vehicle Base, SO53 4HZ
About the Role
Join Serco as a Prisoner Custody Officer (PCO) in Prisoner Escort Custody Services (PECS), where you’ll play a critical role in ensuring the safety, security, and welfare of detainees while supporting the justice system.
Works include escorting detainees between prisons, police stations, and courts, overseeing their well-being during transport, and handling high-pressure situations with professionalism and compassion. Duties also extend to paperwork, equipment checks, and responding to incidents as needed.
Essential traits: Reliable, trustworthy, compassionate, committed to safeguarding, and treating individuals with respect.
Salary & Benefits
-
Initial Training Salary: £24,596 (35hrs/week)
-
Graduated Base Salary: £28,109 (40hrs/week), with progression:
- Year 2: £29,932
- Year 3: £30,496
- Year 4: £31,063 (extending to £29,205 from 1st September 2026)
-
Additional earnings through driving allowances (tiered by licence type):
Licence Type Annual Allowance B/B1 £600 C1 £2,400 -
Combined salary + 8 hours average overtime/week, giving a potential first-year income between £34,805 and £36,605.
Hours:
- Operates 24/7 with shifts set flexibly via a 12-week advance rota.
- Possibility to work part-time, but only across full working days (not reduced hourly limits).
- Schedule and finish times may vary due to operational demands.
Key Responsibilities
As a PCO, your core duties include:
- Attending briefings and receiving detainee, route, and risk information before assignments.
- Conducting vehicle/equipment checks and ensuring operational readiness.
- Collecting, searching, and safely transporting detainees between locations.
- Monitoring welfare during transit, conducting checks, and providing comfort stops as needed.
- Delivering detainees to courts or facilities, ensuring compliance with procedures.
- Remaining at a court (if required) to manage detainees until return or release.
- Completing end-of-shift documentation, incident reports, and welfare assessments.
- Flexibly handling extended hours, and responding to unpredictable operational demands.
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Requirements & Eligibility
To succeed as a PCO, you will need:
- Full UK driving license (minimum B/B1 or C1) – C1 holders ideally must hold a valid CPC.
- Reasonable physical fitness for transporting detainees, extended standing, and stress management.
- Strong communication skills (written and verbal) to interact professionally with detainees, colleagues, and external stakeholders.
- Ability to stay calm under pressure with confident decision-making in high-stress situations.
- Professionalism, integrity, and empathy when managing behavioural control and de-escalation.
- Teamwork mindset and strict adherence to SOP (Standard Operating Procedures).
- Respect for confidentiality and alignment with Serco’s/Justice System’s safeguarding principles.
What We Offer
We provide a comprehensive training and development program along with strong support:
- 20 days holiday (rising to 25 after 7 years), plus bank holiday entitlement.
- Contributory pension scheme (up to 6%) matched by Serco.
- Full-time paid training (5.5 weeks prior to commencement) plus ongoing mentoring and internal course access.
- Wellbeing initiatives: Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), mental health support via MIND, Simply Health (cash/dental/mental health plans), plus discounted gym memberships.
- Discounts on major retail stores, movies, travel, leisure and dining options.
- Hybrid and flexible work in many operational areas (where applicable).
- Diverse and inclusive workplace: Gold Inclusive Employer Standard and Disability Confident Leader accreditation.
Recruitment Process
- Online application: Eligibility questions + online assessments.
- Virtual assessment round: Competency-based interview, opportunity to complete a role-play scenario and a written exercise.
- Vetting checks:
- Right-to-work documentation,
- Ministry of Justice Enhanced Level 2 vetting (DBS level 2}, reference checks, and occupational health evaluation.
- Job offer with fixed training start date contingent on all suitability checks.
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Note: Recruitment is subject to:
- Ministry of Justice safeguarding policies, including safeguarding adult/child training.
- Exemption from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
- Random alcohol/drug testing as part of employment.
- Non-sponsorship for Skilled Worker Visa due to UK Home Office stipulations.
Potential employees must have:
- Right to work in the UK with a valid visa (minimum two years to run).
- Minimum one year’s residency in the UK (for counter-signed eligibility checks).
About Serco & Our Employee Networks
Serco is a global organisation (50,000+ diverse team worldwide) delivering essential public services including justice, healthcare, transport, and defence. Every colleague contributes effectively by balancing dynamic challenges with a focus on diversity, inclusion, and performance growth.
Our values ensure: Action-oriented teams who care for communities, champion innovation, and support continuous development.
Join Serco’s inclusive family through prising networks:
- SercoInspire: Gender equality focus.
- SercoEmbrace: Multicultural celebration.
- SercoUnlimited: Disability-inclusive support.
- @serco (LGBTQ+ Community)
Making an Application
Apply directly through the Serco Careers Portal promptly, as high-volume intake periods may close applications prematurely.
Serco’s ‘Ban the Box’ pledge encourages those with unspacked convictions to apply, though security clearance requirements may bar certain applicants.
For urgent guidance: j&icareersUK@serco.com / #pecs #prisonerescortandcustodydriver
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills