Level 4 Certificate in Understanding Police Custody
The police custody environment is one of the most scrutinised and high-risk areas of modern policing. From safeguarding vulnerable detainees to maintaining evidential integrity, custody staff operate in complex legal, ethical, welfare-centred and operationally pressured environments.
The Level 4 Certificate in Understanding Police Custody was designed to ensure that those entering or looking to work within custody suites have the knowledge required to operate confidently, lawfully and professionally.
For training providers and police employers, this qualification offers a structured route to developing frontline-ready staff.
Designed around national policing standards
This knowledge-based qualification has been developed to reflect:
- The requirements of Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE)
- PACE Codes of Practice
- Authorised Professional Practice (Detention and Custody)
- The Detention and Custody Learning Programme issued by College of Policing
- National Occupational Standards developed by Skills for Justice.
For employers, this means assurance that learners understand the regulatory environment they work within and the competency standards expected. For training providers this clear alignment to national frameworks ensures that they are offering training that is truly beneficial to the sector.
Why this qualification matters
Custody environments are complex. Staff must understand:
- Legal powers and detainee rights
- Risk assessment and safeguarding
- Equality, diversity and professional conduct
- Evidence handling and forensic awareness
- Health, safety and manual handling
- Managing vulnerability and adverse incidents.
This Level 4 Certificate provides the underpinning knowledge required to work in police custody, making it suitable for:
- Pre-employment learners preparing for custody roles
- Police staff development pathways
- Recruitment pipelines for detention officers and custody support roles
- CPD opportunities for existing staff
What does the qualification cover?
1 Detention, care and legal compliance
Learners develop a comprehensive understanding of:
- Arrest and detention procedures under PACE
- Risk assessment and care planning
- Legal rights and entitlements of detained persons
- Ethical treatment and duty of care
- Vulnerability identification and safeguarding
- Understanding and dealing with alcohol and substance misuse
- Search procedures and forensic considerations
- Handling intelligence, evidence and seized property
- Responding to adverse incidents and deaths in custody
- Recording requirements within custody environments
- Communication techniques relevant to custody settings
This unit ensures learners understand both the procedural requirements and the professional judgement required in high-pressure environments.
2 Equality, diversity and professional responsibility
Custody suites serve diverse communities. Learners explore:
- Equality and diversity legislation and terminology
- Cultural awareness and dominant culture impacts
- Discrimination, bullying, harassment and inequality in custody contexts
- Professional responsibility to challenge discrimination, bullying, harassment and inequality.
For forces and providers, this supports both compliance and public confidence.
3 Health, safety and risk management in custody
Learners gain knowledge in:
- Health and safety legal obligations
- Hazard identification and risk reduction
- Manual handling principles
- Personal hygiene and communicable diseases
- Reporting requirements.
This strengthens operational safety for both detainees and staff.
Interested in delivering this qualification?
Whether you are a training provider seeking approval or a police employer looking to strengthen your custody workforce pipeline, get in touch to find out how this qualification can support your organisation.
