Custody Officer

Company description:

New Zealand Police is working with the community to make New Zealanders be safe and feel safe. With over 15,000 staff, we provide policing services 24 hours a day, every day. We operate by land, sea and air, manage over 860,000 emergency calls a year and are always actively preventing crime and crashes.

We're working towards specific goals and targets that highlight our intent to work collaboratively with iwi and communities, other government sectors and business partners to deliver our business and achieve long-term change.

Job description:

Custody Officer, Whangarei, Northland

• Based in Whangarei
• Salary starting from $75,495.00
• Initial 11-month Fixed Term duration
• Shift Work
• JR 6013587

E tῡ ki te kei o te waka, kia pakia koe e ngā ngaru o te wā.

Stand at the stern of the canoe and feel the spray of the future biting at your face

Mō te tūnga | About the role

New Zealand Police are committed towards ensuring New Zealand is the safest country by delivering services that ensure our communities feel confident, safe and secure.

Our Whangarei Custody Team are seeking a motivated individual to work within our dedicated staff as a Custody Officer.

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The role of a Custody Officer within NZ Police is pivotal, and Custody Officers are responsible for providing appropriate standard of care for detainees whilst they are in our custody. Your main purpose will be to assist with prisoner Management within the Whangarei Custody Unit based at the Whangarei Police Station and/or at the District Court as required.

In this position you will need to be able to work shift work and weekend work when required at either the District Custody Unit or the Courts as directed.

Applying the principles of manaakitanga, kaitiakitanga and aroha you will be responsible for ensuring the health and safety of detainees, monitoring their behaviour, providing proper care and ensuring professional standards whilst they are in our care are continuously met.

This role is not for the faint hearted and will require someone who is confident, open-minded with attention to detail and willing to follow stringent safety procedures.

Why work at Police?

• It is an organisation and career to be proud of.
• You will be helping to keep communities safe.
• There is on the job training in support of your development.
• You will partner with other services in supporting detainees.
• Possibility to progress within the Police.
• Competitive salary

Nga kawenga matua | Key Accountabilities:

• You will be able to uncover and collect information using your active listening and communication skills.
• You will be resilient when faced with adverse situations, maintaining composure, and working alongside team members to mitigate and de-escalate potential risk.
• You will work collaboratively with external stakeholders to ensure appropriate care and support for vulnerable detainees is available.
• In a fluid operational environment, you must be adaptable to change, remain vigilant to detainee needs and maintain high standards of professionalism that align with our business
• Demonstrate commitment to ongoing training.

He aha taau e kawe mai | What you'll bring

Whilst we are looking for skills, knowledge and experience relevant to the role, we also place high importance on your state of mind, the alignment of your values with ours, your ability to contribute to and build high performing teams, and the way that you lead yourself or others.

The successful applicants will have the following skills and attributes:

• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Resilience and perseverance, with the ability to de-escalate situations in a calm and professional manner.
• Strong attention to detail, accurate and precise, with the ability to record and prepare information such as statements for court.
• Duty of care, understanding the welfare, health, safety, and level of care required for detainees.
• Strong team player, reliable, trustworthy, flexible to work shifts, weekends, public holidays.
• Decisive, cool, calm, and collected, can think on your feet, using your initiative and work well under pressure.
• Good computer skills and are comfortable learning new systems, as you will be required to input and update data accurately in Police systems, accurate typing abilities are essential.

Whakaritenga motuhake | Special requirements

To be eligible to apply you must:

• Hold a full New Zealand Driver Licence
• Be a New Zealand citizen or hold permanent residence.
• Be physically fit and able to compete a fitness assessment as part of your recruitment process (https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=cRgqAjTO_yw)
• Be willing to complete a pre-employment Medical Assessment (including a drug test)
• Be able to work a variety of shifts (6:30am - 2:30pm / 2:00pm - 11:00pm / 10:00pm - 7:00am) including weekends and public holidays, on 6 days on, 4 days off rota.
  Flexibility is required as you may need to cover other shifts

This role is Individual Contributor/Emerging Leader level. You can refer to Indicators for Success for further information on the requirements

To view the position description for this role please copy and paste this link into a new browser: https://www.police.govt.nz/sites/default/files/pd/08-2023/custody_officer.pdf

Mo tātou | About us

New Zealand Police is the lead agency responsible for preventing crime and enhancing community safety. It works in partnership with individuals, communities, businesses, and other public sector agencies towards the vision of making New Zealand the safest country. Police is the government's largest front-line response agency with around 15,000 staff in large and small communities all over New Zealand and in liaison and policing development roles overseas.

Your development is highly valued at NZ Police. Our employees enjoy significant investment in their development not only at an individual level, but also at the team and community of practice level. We work hard to match you with work that will both play to your strengths and challenge you in new ways.

The work you'll be engaged in is real, tangible work that directly benefits our frontline and communities. Taken all together, this means we can offer you career path opportunities to progress in your chosen profession and become a more well-rounded, experienced leader, with opportunities across the range of work we support.

Tono ināianei | Apply now

Please note: Applications submitted directly through the Government Jobs Website are no longer considered. Please visit our Police Careers page and apply that way.

If this position sounds like you then click on Apply Now

To view more detailed information about our recruitment process along with further details about requirements please click the link below:

Applicant Information Pack (External)

Utu ā-tau | Salary

This position is covered by a collective agreement, and salary will commence between $75,495.00 and $78,910.00 dependent on skills and experience relevant to the role.

If you have any questions about this vacancy, please contact [email protected]

Advert closes at 5pm, Sunday 27th September 2026.

Applications will be reviewed and progressed through the process prior to the advert closing so don't delay and apply now!

Profile description:

The role of a Custody Officer within NZ Police is pivotal, and Custody Officers are responsible for providing appropriate standard of care for detainees whilst they are in our custody