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Title / Demonstrate knowledge of and conduct an arrest as a Customs officer
Level / 4 / Credits / 8
Purpose / 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
1Performance 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
New Zealand Customs Service Code of Conduct (available from NZ Customs Service, PO Box 2218, Wellington 6140,
2Organisational 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.
3Competence 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
1.1A Customs officer’s power of arrest is identified and explained in accordance with the Customs and Excise Act 1996 and other legislation.
Rangeother 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
2.1Requirements a Customs officer must consider prior to making an arrest are explained in accordance with legislative and organisational requirements.
2.2Discretionary factors that justify making an arrest are explained in accordance with legislative and organisational requirements.
Rangefactors 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.
Outcome 3
Explain the legislative and organisational requirements when arresting and searching a person.
Evidence requirements
3.1The procedural requirements of a Customs officer when making an arrest are explained.
3.2The authorisation procedure for searching an arrested person is identified and explained.
3.3Statutory obligations and the organisational duties of a Customs officer when searching an arrested person are explained.
3.4The 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
4.1Legislative and organisational requirements relating to the use of force are explained.
4.2The use of reasonable and justified force during an arrest is demonstrated and explained in accordance with legislative and organisational requirements.
4.3A use of force report is completed in accordance to legislative and organisational requirements.
Outcome 5
Conduct an arrest in a Customs environment.
Evidence requirements
5.1An arrest is conducted in accordance with legislative and organisational requirements.
5.2An arrest file is produced and all reporting documentation is completed in accordance with legislative and organisational requirements.
Planned review date / 31 December 2015Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process / Version / Date / Last Date for AssessmentRegistration / 1 / 17 September 2010 / N/A
Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP) reference / 0121
This AMAP can be accessed at
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 if you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
The Skills OrganisationSSB Code 100401 / New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2018