The police officer responsible for the care and welfare of arrested persons who are brought to the police station.
The custody sergeant speaks to the child when they arrive at the police station and makes decisions about how the child is cared for at the police station.
The custody sergeant:
- makes a list of the child’s belongings (this is called a property record)
- writes everything down on a custody record
- informs the child’s parent, guardian (or person responsible for their welfare) that the child has been arrested
- makes arrangements for an appropriate adult to look after the child, their welfare needs and protect the child’s rights at the police station
- decides whether a child needs to be strip searched
- decides whether a child needs to be kept in a police cell
- decides whether the child can be released on bail or makes arrangements to transfer the child to local authority accommodation.