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This page contains press release 16/04, which the MPA announces that the new Met police staff in custody roles will bring benefits for policing in London.
Warning: This is archived material and may be out of date. The Metropolitan Police Authority has been replaced by the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (MOPC).
See the MOPC website for further information.
New Met police staff in custody roles will bring benefits for policing in London
16/04
5 March 2004
The Metropolitan Police Authority today endorsed the introduction of a new breed of police staff acting in a custody role - Designated Detention Officers (DDOs) - whose primary function will be to administer compulsory drugs testing on charge.
The new positions will be introduced in the 12 London boroughs identified as having the highest levels of acquisitive crime. They will be members of police staff with powers to take drug samples from detained persons in certain circumstances and will be authorised to exercise limited police powers to deal with detained persons in custody areas. Their recruitment will be funded through the Home Office Criminal Justice Interventions Programme for a period of two years.
Toby Harris, Chair of the Authority, said:
“The introduction of these roles is a progressive move and will bring positive benefits for Londoners – they will enable police officers to return front line duties and professionalise the gaoler function through having a dedicated officer working full time in the custody office.
“It is only right that we introduce 21st century police support roles that will benefit our communities by freeing police officers to return to their primary role of policing our streets.”
Notes to editors
1. In the first instance the MPS will recruit 120 DDO’s, funded by the Home Office. They will be based in 12 BOCU’s that have been identified as having the highest levels of acquisitive crime: Camden; Ealing; Hackney; Haringey; Islington; Lambeth; Newham; Southwark; Tower Hamlets; Waltham Forest; Wandsworth; and Westminster.
2. The programme will expand in 2004/5 to include a further five BOCU’s within the MPS: Brent; Croydon; Hammersmith & Fulham; Kensington & Chelsea; and Lewisham.
3. On 9 January 2003 the MPA Planning, Performance & Review Committee approved the Bringing Offenders to Justice Best Value Review. Recommendation 1 was the introduction of detention officers to take away the administrative burden of police officers.
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