Section 69Part 4 — Powers, Duties and Privileges of Police Officers
Custody officers
←→ Navigate · Click subsection badges to collapse · Press ? for help
69. (1) The Commissioner may appoint one or more police officers as custody officers for each police station where persons are kept in custody.
A police officer may not be appointed a custody officer unless that police officer is of at least the rank of Sergeant.
A police officer of any rank may perform the functions of a custody officer at a police station if a custody officer is not readily available to perform them.
Subject to the following provisions of this section none of the functions of a custody officer in relation to a person shall be performed by a police officer who at the time when the function falls to be performed is involved in the investigation of an offence for which that person is in police detention at that time.
Nothing in subsection (4) is to be taken to prevent a custody officer from —
performing any function assigned to a custody officer —
by this Act; or
by a rule of practice made under section 6(1)(c) of this Act;
doing anything in connection with the identification of a suspect; or
doing anything under section 85 of the Traffic Act (2021 Revision).
References to a custody officer in the following provisions of this Act include references to a police officer other than a custody officer who is performing the functions of a custody officer by virtue of subsection (3).
Where a person has been detained in custody, the custody officer shall as soon as is practicable after detention ensure that a written record is made of the grounds for that person’s detention and shall cause to be recorded any movement of that detained person outside of the place of detention. Police Act (2021 Revision) Section 70 c Revised as at 31st December, 2020 Page 63
Where a person has been taken into police custody, it shall be the duty of the custody officer to inform such person whether the person is being —
released; or
detained, as the case may be and the reasons therefor; including whether this is to enable the Director of Public Prosecutions to make a decision under section 82 as to whether the person should be prosecuted for the offence for which the person was arrested.