NZQA registered unit standard
26508 version 1
Page 1 of 4
Title
Demonstrate knowledge of and conduct an arrest as a Customs
officer
Level
4
Purpose
Credits
8
This unit standard is for people working in the Investigations
and Response business unit of the New Zealand Customs
Service who may need to exercise their powers of arrest during
their duties.
People credited with this unit standard are able to: explain the
statutory authority for a Customs officer to make an arrest in a
Customs environment; explain the requirements a Customs
officer must consider to justify an arrest; explain the legislative
and organisational requirements when arresting and searching
a person; explain and demonstrate the use of force and
complete a use of force report; and conduct an arrest in a
Customs environment.
Classification
Public Sector Services > Border Management
Available grade
Achieved
Explanatory notes
1
Performance in relation to the outcomes and evidence requirements must comply
with current legislation, policies and procedures, including:
Customs and Excise Act 1996;
Misuse of Drugs Act 1975;
Trade and Endangered Species Act 1989;
Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993;
Maritime Security Act 2004;
New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990;
Crimes Act 1961;
Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992;
Privacy Act 1993;
Customs and Excise Regulations 1996;
The State Services Code of Conduct, Standards of Integrity and Conduct (available
from www.ssc.govt.nz);
New Zealand Customs Service Code of Conduct (available from NZ Customs
Service, PO Box 2218, Wellington 6140, www.customs.govt.nz).
The Skills Organisation
SSB Code 100401
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
26508 version 1
Page 2 of 4
2
Organisational requirements refers to instructions to staff on policies, procedures,
and methodologies which are documented and available in the workplace. They
must be consistent with applicable legislation and other applicable compliance
requirements.
3
Competence for this unit standard may be demonstrated under simulated or actual
workplace conditions.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Explain the statutory authority for a Customs officer to make an arrest in a Customs
environment.
Evidence requirements
1.1
A Customs officer’s power of arrest is identified and explained in accordance
with the Customs and Excise Act 1996 and other legislation.
Range
other legislation must include but is not limited to – Misuse of
Drugs Act 1975; Trade and Endangered Species Act 1989; Films,
Videos, Publications Classification Act 1993; Maritime Security Act
2004.
Outcome 2
Explain the requirements a Customs officer must consider to justify making an arrest.
Evidence requirements
2.1
Requirements a Customs officer must consider prior to making an arrest are
explained in accordance with legislative and organisational requirements.
2.2
Discretionary factors that justify making an arrest are explained in accordance
with legislative and organisational requirements.
Range
The Skills Organisation
SSB Code 100401
factors include but are not limited to – seriousness of the offence;
threat to the community or public interest; resolutions other than
arrest (a summons or warning); likelihood the offender may:
abscond, destroy evidence, interfere with witnesses, warn
accomplices, commit further offences.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
26508 version 1
Page 3 of 4
Outcome 3
Explain the legislative and organisational requirements when arresting and searching a
person.
Evidence requirements
3.1
The procedural requirements of a Customs officer when making an arrest are
explained.
3.2
The authorisation procedure for searching an arrested person is identified and
explained.
3.3
Statutory obligations and the organisational duties of a Customs officer when
searching an arrested person are explained.
3.4
The post-arrest procedural requirements of a Customs officer are explained.
Outcome 4
Explain and demonstrate the use of force and complete a use of force report.
Evidence requirements
4.1
Legislative and organisational requirements relating to the use of force are
explained.
4.2
The use of reasonable and justified force during an arrest is demonstrated and
explained in accordance with legislative and organisational requirements.
4.3
A use of force report is completed in accordance to legislative and
organisational requirements.
Outcome 5
Conduct an arrest in a Customs environment.
Evidence requirements
5.1
An arrest is conducted in accordance with legislative and organisational
requirements.
5.2
An arrest file is produced and all reporting documentation is completed in
accordance with legislative and organisational requirements.
Planned review date
The Skills Organisation
SSB Code 100401
31 December 2015
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
26508 version 1
Page 4 of 4
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process
Version Date
Last Date for Assessment
Registration
1
17 September 2010
N/A
Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP) reference
0121
This AMAP can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA, or
an inter-institutional body with delegated authority for quality assurance, before they can
report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses of study leading
to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by
NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and
which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that
applies to those standards.
Consent requirements and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this
standard are outlined in the Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP). The
AMAP also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations
wishing to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for
tutors and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact The Skills Organisation info@skills.org.nz if you wish to suggest changes
to the content of this unit standard.
The Skills Organisation
SSB Code 100401
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016