The Melbourne Custody Centre is the main reception point for people arrested by police in Victoria with more than 11,000 people processed by the centre every year.

Located in the lower level of the Melbourne Magistrate's Court in the central business district, the Melbourne Custody Centre came under The GEO Group Australia management in March 1999.

The centre takes in a diverse group of people from the intoxicated held for only a few hours to criminals facing serious court charges. It is also a transition point for offenders found guilty and who are waiting for transport to Victorian prisons and remand centres. The centre takes up to 100 offenders during the day and 67 at night.

The facility has 30 cells, a control room, a medical room and an administration area. Twenty-one cells open into three exercise yards, a further two are padded cells, and three are for the intoxicated. The remaining four cells separate different categories of inmates.

The centre services 14 magistrates' courts on four levels. Two of these levels have a further seven cells to hold prisoners awaiting court appearances.

The GEO Group Australia also provides emergency escort staff for prisoners requiring urgent medical attention. With round-the-clock supervision and care, the Melbourne Custody Centre is the most suitable place for problem prisoners who may be suicidal or facing medical or management issues.

Accreditations

The Melbourne Custody Centre’s Safety Management System has been certified to the SafetyMAP Advanced Level standard — a first for a police custody facility in Australia. Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance conducted an audit of the policies and procedures for managing the safety, security and welfare of prisoners at the centre.

The audit process extends to reviewing the procedures for escorting prisoners to court and guarding them during court appearances. The achievement of the advanced safety certification shows that the centre’s procedures provide a high level of safety for employees.