This unit applies to authorised officers as defined within relevant jurisdictional court security legislation.
The unit addresses identifying appropriate court security measures to maintain the safety of all court users. It also covers providing prompt and effective response to any security issues and potential disruptions to the court including high-risk court cases.
The unit involves identifying and facilitating any specific requirements of individual courts and conducting constant risk assessment pre/post and during court hearings. Stakeholders may include court officials, correctional service staff, community groups, police and other relevant parties including the media, victim and family members, witnesses and members of the public.
Court security duties may be conducted in Supreme, County or Magistrates Courts, other tribunals or authorised bodies entitled to hear, receive, or examine evidence in accordance with relevant legislation.
Sound judgement with regard to operational policing methods is required to ensure the safety of all court users within courtrooms and law court precincts. Sound knowledge of relevant law enforcement principles is needed as applied within the court operations context. An understanding of operational safety tactics is necessary when dealing with conflict.
This unit requires sound knowledge of legal and police court processes as they relate to courts, to ensure the provision of prompt and effective responses to breaches of security and the law in the court environment.
Not applicable.
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
1. Prepare for court security | 1.1 Court security briefing instructions are interpreted to ensure compliance with organisational requirements 1.2 Relevant equipment is obtained and set up at the court according to court security briefing instructions and occupational health and safety (OH&S) requirements 1.3 Security search of the courtroom is conducted in accordance with relevant standard operating procedures (SOPs) 1.4 Court security processes are maintained prior to the commencement of the court hearing 1.5 Court officials and other relevant parties are made aware of relevant organisational requirements as listed in the court security briefing instruction |
2. Undertake court security duties | 2.1 Searches of persons and their personal effects are conducted prior to persons entering the court premises in accordance with court security briefing instructions 2.2 Risk assessments are constantly undertaken and appropriate responses are made in accordance with organisational policies and procedures |
3. Conclude court security duties | 3.1 Security clearance and/or other prescribed responsibilities of the court are conducted upon the court's conclusion in accordance with organisational SOPs and court security briefing instructions 3.2 Relevant equipment and correspondence is processed in accordance with organisational policies and procedures 3.3 Any resultant issues and /or concerns are communicated to relevant persons according to organisational policies and procedures |
This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level, required for this unit. |
Required Skills |
communicate effectively verbally and in writing implement cross-cultural process and procedures implement customer service organisational requirements operate relevant safety equipment operate security scanning equipment |
Required Knowledge |
court hierarchy court layout, procedures and protocols OH&S policies and procedures organisational policies and procedures (such as relevant legislation; operational, corporate and strategic plans; operational performance standards; operational policies and procedures; organisational personnel and occupational health and safety practices and guidelines; organisational quality standards; organisation's approach to environmental management and sustainability) relevant court proceedings and terminology relevant operational legislation |
The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package. | |
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit | Assessment must confirm the ability to: outline the range of courts in the state/territory or commonwealth apply court protocols and procedures apply court security statutes apply court security operational procedures including secure court operational procedures. Consistency in performance Competency should be demonstrated gathered over time in a range of actual or simulated workplace environments to ensure the person can achieve the outcome and apply the competence in different situations or environments. |
Context of and specific resources for assessment | Context of assessment Competency should be assessed over time and through a range of contexts in order to ensure consistency of performance over a range of situations. Specific resources for assessment Access is required to: suitable equipment, courtroom and associated facilities including court security briefing instructions, hand-held scanners, adequate furniture including seating, court security signage such as condition of entry signage, full personal accoutrements other miscellaneous items such as adequate search tables, mirrors, torches and weapon detection systems. |
Method of assessment | In a public safety environment assessment is usually conducted via direct observation in a training environment or in the workplace via subject matter supervision and/or mentoring, which is typically recorded in a competency workbook. Assessment is completed using appropriately qualified assessors who select the most appropriate method of assessment. Assessment may occur in an operational environment or in an industry-approved simulated work environment. Forms of assessment that are typically used include: direct observation interviewing the candidate journals and workplace documentation third party reports from supervisors written or oral questions. |
The Range Statement relates to the Unit of Competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording in the Performance Criteria is detailed below. | |
Organisational requirements may include: | Entering name, address, proof of identification and other relevant information of persons entering the court room on attendance sheet Searching prescribed persons prior to entry to the court Searching personal effects are Searching court room prior to commencement of court for any explosive devices, weapons and/or other items Refusing entry to persons if the courtroom is full or if they do not comply with entry requirements Maintaining vigilance to detect any suspicious behaviour Taking decisive action in response to security breaches and breaches of the law Seeking, verifying and documenting prior to access being permitted into the courtroom, identification of persons entering a secure court |
Relevant equipment may include: | Attendance sheets, including secure court logbooks Furniture such as tables and chairs placed outside the entry of the courtroom Hand-held metal detectors Operational safety equipment such as firearm, baton, capsicum spray, handcuffs, portable radio and/or other issued equipment Plastic trays for searching personal effects Signs regarding condition of entry requirements Weapon detection devices |
Relevant standard operating procedures may include: | Building/room search procedures |
Court security processes may include: | Searching designated area prior to all sessions Securing designated area after conducting a building/room search |
Court officials and other relevant parties may include: | Court network staff Custodial staff Defence counsel Defendant (if on bail) and defendant's family and friends Department of Justice staff such as Criminal Coordinators, Prothonotary Journalists Judge's associate Members of the public Police informant/s Presiding official/s Prosecutors Tipstaves/Registrar Victim/s and victim's family and friends Witness/es |
Organisational policies and procedures may include: | Court security legislation and other relevant statutes Policies and procedures regarding searches, operational safety, conflict resolution and secure court operations |
Prescribed responsibilities of the court may include: | Prisoner transfer Protected witness security measures |
Resultant issues and/or concerns may include: | Communication issues Equipment failure Suitability of the selected court room |
Not applicable.
This unit contains employability skills.
Not applicable.