The Act Schedule 4: Police powers exercisable by police civilians Part 4: Escort Officers
228.This Part covers escort powers. It includes powers enabling civilians to transport arrested persons to police stations. It also allows civilians to escort detained persons from one police station to another or between police stations and other locations specified by the custody officer.
229.Paragraph 34 enables a suitably designated person to carry out the duty of taking a person arrested by a constable to a police station as soon as practicable. That must be a designated station (i.e. a main station equipped for holding detainees) unless the person is working in an area not covered by such a station and it appears that it will not be necessary to hold the arrestee for more than six hours. The designated person may delay removal to a police station if the arrestee is required elsewhere for immediate investigative purposes. A designated person using powers under this paragraph is regarded as having the arrestee in lawful custody. He has a duty to prevent escape and is entitled to use reasonable force and to carry out non-intimate searches.
230.Paragraph 35 enables a suitably designated person, with the authority of the custody officer, to escort detainees between police stations or between police stations and other specified locations. Once again, a designated person using powers under this paragraph is regarded as having the detainee in lawful custody. He has a duty to prevent escape and is entitled to use reasonable force and to carry out non-intimate searches. Where the custody officer transfers a detainee to a designated person under these provisions, the designated person becomes responsible for ensuring appropriate treatment for the detainee.