The Act Schedule 9: Additional powers and duties of designated persons
296.Schedule 9 makes a number of amendments to Schedule 4 to the 2002 Act which lists the powers exercisable by civilians who have been appointed as community support officers, investigating officers, detention officers or escort officers.
297.Schedule 9 clarifies the position of community support officers and escort officers of having legal custody of a suspect under their control until the individual has been transferred into the custody of a police officer. In additional the amendments enable the community support officer to use reasonable force to keep the individual under control and prevent him from escaping from their custody.
298.The Schedule also places a general duty on investigation and detention officers and on staff custody officers to assist officers or other designated staff to keep control of a detainee or prevent him from escaping, regardless of whether that individual is under their control at the time and enables the designated officer to use reasonable force. In the case of investigation and detention officers the use of these powers can only be used in the confines of the police station, however, for escort officers the powers extend to the immediate vicinity of the police station.