Prisoner Escort & Custody Driver
About this role
Job Advertisement: Prisoner Escort & Custody Driver
Company Name: Support Bridge Staffing Agency
Location: Belvedere Vehicle Base, DA17 6AN
Salary:
Initial Training Salary: £28,179 per annum (35 hours per week)
Graduated Base Salary: £32,204 per annum (40 hours per week), with clear annual progression (Year 2: £32,998; Year 3: £33,723; Year 4: £34,482)
Additional Driving Allowances: B/B1 licence: £600 per year | C1 licence: £2,400 per year
Potential first-year income between £37,804 and £39,604 when combined with base salary and average overtime (8 hours per week)!
Job Type: Permanent, Full-Time (24/6 shift rota across early and late shifts; flexibility required)
Job ID: 303824
Keep people safe. Keep justice moving.
Support Bridge Staffing Agency is proud to partner with essential justice and transport networks to connect reliable, compassionate professionals with secure careers. We are currently recruiting a dedicated Prisoner Escort & Custody Driver (Prisoner Custody Officer - PCO) to join our Prisoner Escort Custody Services (PECS) team based at the Belvedere Vehicle Base.
In this vital role, you will work as part of a crew delivering safe, secure transport and custody services. You will escort detainees between prisons, police stations, and courts, ensuring their welfare, dignity, and safety at all times while helping keep the justice system running smoothly.
What You’ll Do
Briefings & Checks: Attend operational briefings, review risk details, and carry out thorough vehicle and equipment safety checks before setting off.
Secure Transport & Escort: Safely collect, search, and transport detainees to courts or between establishments, maintaining secure custody standards.
Welfare Monitoring: Monitor detainee welfare throughout transport via regular checks and comfort stops, providing essential care and support.
Court Custody & Documentation: Complete court-based escorting, cell supervision, end-of-shift documentation, and incident reporting.
Flexible Operations: Work collaboratively across a rotating shift pattern, responding flexibly to operational demands.
What We Are Looking For
Driving Licence: A full UK driving licence is essential (B1 or C1; C1 licence holders should ideally hold a valid CPC).
Background: We welcome applicants from all backgrounds—security, transport, logistics, care, retail, and customer service. What matters most is your integrity, reliability, and compassion.
Key Skills: Strong verbal and written communication skills, calm under pressure, conflict de-escalation abilities, and rigorous attention to detail.
Vetting & Compliance: Ability to pass Ministry of Justice Enhanced Level 2 checks, Enhanced DBS clearance, and mandatory drug/alcohol testing. (Note: Must have the right to work in the UK with at least 2 years remaining on any visa and 1 year of UK residency).
What We Offer You
Comprehensive Training: A fully paid 5.5-week structured induction and training program, plus ongoing mentorship from experienced colleagues.
Leave Allowance: 20 days’ holiday (rising to 25 days after 7 years' service) plus bank holidays (pro-rata).
Pension Scheme: Up to 6% contributory employer pension scheme.
Health & Wellbeing: Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), mental health support via MIND, Simplyhealth cash and dental plans, and discounts on gym memberships.
Retail Perks: Savings across major retailers, leisure experiences, cinema, hospitality, and mobile plans.
Vetting and Checks
Job offers are subject to Ministry of Justice Enhanced Level 2 checks with Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance, satisfactory employment references, and occupational health checks. This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, and all staff are subject to random alcohol and drug testing.